Have two genitals, how do leeches mate? page all

KOMPAS.com – Leeches belongs to the family of segmented worms (Annelida), with a flat body characteristic blackish brown.

These blood-sucking animals, usually live in various types of environments including fresh water, salt water, and can even be found on land.

Multiple species Leeches are carnivores and swallow their prey whole, but most of them are parasites that attach to their hosts.

Just like humans, leeches also need to reproduce to produce offspring. Then, how? the way leeches mate?

Also read: Sea Snails mate by stabbing each other’s head

To answer that, animal kamasutra This time discusses the process of mating leeches.

Reported from SciencingMonday (23/4/2018) leeches are animals hermaphroditewhich has two male and female genitalia.

Some people may think that having two sexes means that animals can mate with themselves. But apparently, most hermaphrodite animals do not fertilize themselves.

Despite having two genitals, leeches still reproduce sexually with their partners by sticking to each other’s bodies.

The mating season for leeches, as reported by BioWeb, Thursday (16/6/2022), can take place in early June to August. Those who have matured sexually will begin to produce sperm, and eggs.

During the mating process, leeches that act as males will release spermatophores, or capsules that enclose sperm. Then, the spermatophore will attach to its partner.

After sticking, the sperm will come out of the spermatophores that enter through the skin of other leeches. When it enters the skin, it travels to the ovary and fertilizes the egg.

Clitellum — the band of tissue that expels the cocoon may enlarge during this process. After mating, the leech will release a cocoon to store the eggs.

These cocoons come from the leech’s glands, which are used to protect the eggs.

When the cocoon leaves the body, the fertilized egg attaches to the cocoon. Usually, these animals will lay their cocoons on rocks or plants.

Animals that have suckers at the ends of their heads and tails die after reproducing once, or in some cases, mating twice.

Also read: Having a flat and small body shape, this is how flatworms mate

Leech family

In some species, egg development in a cocoon lasts only a week. Meanwhile, other leech species may take longer for the eggs to hatch.

Because the cocoons take several days to harden, some leeches actually cover them with their bodies to protect them from predators.

The newly hatched leech will attach to the host’s body. After consuming their first meal, the young leech will live independently without the care of its mother.

Certain species, in fact, will wait for the eggs to hatch and then bring their young, in order to eat their first meal.

The leech itself is epimorphic, meaning that it goes through the stages of growth without undergoing changes in body morphology. During adolescence, leeches undergo two types of growth depending on the breed.

Those with fast digestive systems, can eat regularly and grow continuously, while those with slow digestion continue to grow quickly and can survive for a long time without eating.

The average length of an adult leech is usually between 15 and 30 mm. Even so, leeches as long as 200 mm have been found by scientists in the tropics.

Also read: Life is squeezed by rocks, barnacles rely on a very long penis for mating

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