Question

Leech is ………. belonging to phylum annelida
A. Carnivorous
B. Coprophagous
C. Herbivorous
D. Sanguivorous

Answer 1

Hint: Annelida is the phylum that includes earthworm and leech. Body of these organisms are metamerically segmented and hence the name Annelida. Based on the type of nutrition, animals can be classified into carnivorous animals, coprophagous animals, sanguivorous animals, etc.

Complete answer: Phylum annelida consists of aquatic, terrestrial or free-living animals. Certain
annelids are even parasitic in nature. Hirudinaria or blood-sucking leech belongs to this phylum. These organisms feed on blood. So they are called sanguivorous animals. Sanguivorous animals are
organisms that feed on blood. Leech has special mechanisms for sucking blood. Anterior suckers present in the front help them to cling to another organism and suck their blood. Most of the leeches are parasitic in nature. These are not host-specific parasites and they depend on many animals for their nutrition. They ingest a special chemical while sucking blood called hirudin and hence their name. Female mosquitoes are examples of sanguivorous animals as they feed on blood for nutrition. Ticks, bugs, blood-sucking lampreys, etc are other organisms that are sanguivorous in nature. Some animals eat the flesh of other animals as food. They are called carnivores. Wild animals like lion, tiger, etc are carnivorous in nature. They play a major role in the food chain. Animals that feed on plants are called herbivores. Several domestic animals like cow, goat, etc are herbivores. Animals that eat both flesh as in carnivores and plants as in herbivores are called omnivores. Organisms that feed on waste materials excreted by themselves or other animals are called coprophagous organisms.
Hence, the correct option is D.

Note: Earthworm that belongs to phylum annelida is monoecious in nature. It has both male and female sex organs in the same individual. Neries is an aquatic organism that belongs to this phylum. They are dioecious in nature.