Leech

worms · parasites · segmented · water creatures

Suction cup experts. Leeches have suckers at both ends of their bodies that work like tiny plungers, letting them grip onto surfaces and move around smoothly.

Stretchy and strong. A leech's body is packed with powerful muscles that let it lengthen and contract, squeezing through tight spaces and changing shape to move wherever it needs to go.

Segmented like rings. Leeches have soft bodies divided into segments (like rings stacked together), which makes them flexible and allows them to bend and twist in lots of directions.

Cousins to earthworms. Leeches are closely related to earthworms and share many features, but leeches have their special suckers and different body markings that earthworms don't have.

Self-reproducing partners. Leeches are hermaphrodites, meaning each leech has both male and female parts, so they can make babies on their own without needing a partner.