Question

Hirudinaria is
(a)Marine aquatic
(b)Terrestrial annelid
(c)Endoparasite
(d)Ectoparasite

Answer 1

Hint: They are parasites that live on the external surface of hosts, from which they derive their nutrition. They do not live within the body. Fleas and lice are the best examples.

Complete answer:
Hirudinaria is commonly known as Indian Leech. They are found in freshwater tanks, ponds, lakes, swamps, and slow streams. It favors shallow water and remains concealed under weeds, logs, and stones. It is sanguivorous (blood-sucking) sucking the blood of fishes and frogs, and also of cattle or human beings when they enter the pond. Leeches show a great diversity in their habits and habitat. Some species are marine, some are freshwater, while others are terrestrial. Though many species are blood-suckers (ectoparasitic) yet a large number are not ectoparasitic but are predatory and feed on worms, snails, and insect larvae.

Additional Information: The features of leech are-
-Leech is bisexual.
-Their body is elongated and dorsoventrally flattened.
-It is found in freshwater ponds and sluggish streams.
-They are also known as Indian cattle leech, it is a temporary ectoparasite that feeds on cattle and blood.
-They are metamerically segmented. Their body contains 33 segments.
-Exhibits powerful organ attachments and locomotion.
-There are 5 pairs of small eyes situated dorsally in the 5 segments.
-The anus is present at the bottom of the posterior sucker.
-The anterior end has an anterior sucker that is cup-shaped, turned downwards, and ventral, wherein the mouth is centrally located. The posterior side contains a posterior sucker, which is circular and is highly muscular.
So, the correct answer is ‘Ectoparasite’.

Note: Leeches have been used in medicine from ancient times until the 19th century to draw blood from patients. In modern times, leeches find medical use in the treatment of joint diseases such as epicondylitis and osteoarthritis, extremity vein diseases, and microsurgery, while hirudin is used as an anticoagulant drug to treat blood-clotting disorders.