Haemopis sanguisuga

Pferdeegel ( Haemopis sanguisuga )

The Pferdeegel ( Haemopis sanguisuga ) is a type of the subclass of leeches ( Hirudinea ) and belongs to the pine leeches ( Gnathobdelliformes ).

Features

The type often has a length of more than ten centimeters ( stretched to 15 cm) and is thus similar in size to the medical leech ( Hirudo medicinalis ), with which it is often confused. At the top front and side edge there are five pairs of eyes. The coloring of the upper surface is brownish - sometimes with darker spots - or blackish; longitudinal red stripes are missing. The underside is yellow -gray to green colored, irregularly mottled dark and sometimes limited only by yellowish sidebands. The number of visible cross Ringel corresponds - as with other leeches also - not the number of segments that make up the body composed (33 ), but they are much more numerous.

Occurrence and life

Habitat of Pferdeegels are standing and slowly flowing waters. The species is found throughout Europe and in North Africa. It does not suck blood, this the dentition of the jaw ( two rows of 14 teeth ) is too weak. Instead, the Pferdeegel of various aquatic animals, which he devours malnourished. To prey composition include, for example insect larvae, worms, fish fry and eggs and larvae of amphibians. Long phases can be survived without food between meals.

The animals move both crawling away - with the help of her two suction cups on the ends of the body - as well as free-floating with snaking. Sometimes Pferdeegel leave the waters. In moist soil near the shore egg sacs are stored. These are up to a centimeter in size.

Naming

Both the German language as well as the derived from the Greek and Latin scientific name is misleading. Haemopis sanguisuga means " bloodthirsty leeches ", although the type is not one of the ectoparasitic, blood-sucking leeches. The term " Pferdeegel " based on a confusion with the native to the Mediterranean Rossegel ( Limnatis nilotica ). This can penetrate to cattle watering in the nasal cavities, the pharynx and the esophagus of cattle, horses, etc., and accumulate there.

Documents

  • Wolfgang Engelhardt: What lives in ponds, stream and pond? Cosmos Franckh, Stuttgart, 1986 ( 12th edition), pp. 122ff. ISBN 3-440-05444-6
  • Herbert W. Ludwig: Animals and plants of our waters. BLV Verlagsgesellschaft, Munich 2003, ISBN 3-405-16487-7 p.144
  • Peter Rietschel (Ed. ): Link worms. Chap. 12 In: Grzimek's Animal Life, Vol 1: Invertebrates. License issue in dtv, Munich 1979, p 385f. ISBN 3-423-03203-0
  • Dictionary of Biology. Vol 4, Herder -Verlag, Freiburg, 1985, p 151 ISBN 3-451-19644-1
Genus Parasitism
369242
de