Write a note on the feeding habit & digestion in leech.

Explanation

(i) The leech is sanguivorous in habit, sucking the blood of cattle and other domestic animals.
(ii) During feeding, the leech attaches itself to its victim strongly by the posterior sucker.
(iii) The leech makes a triradiate or Y shaped incision in the skin of the host by the jaws protruded through the mouth.
(iv) The blood is sucked by muscular pharynx . The salivary secretion is Poured.
(v) The ingested blood is stored in crop chambers and its diverticulum.
(vi) The blood passes from crop into stomach.
(vi) Digestion takes place in stomach by the action of proteolytic enzyme.
(viii) The digested blood is then absorbed slowly by the intestine.
(ix) Undigested food is stored in rectum and egested through anus.
(x) Leeches prevent blood clotting by secreting a protein called hirudin. They also inject an anaesthetic substance that prevents the host from feeling their bite.