A minority of leech species are predatory, mostly preying on small invertebrates. The jaws used to pierce the skin are replaced in other species by a proboscis which is pushed into the skin. The best-known species, such as the medicinal leech, Hirudo medicinalis, are hematophagous, attaching themselves to a host with a sucker and feeding on blood, having first secreted the peptide hirudin to prevent the blood from clotting. The majority of leeches live in freshwater habitats, while some species can be found in terrestrial or marine environments. The body is muscular and relatively solid, and the coelom, the spacious body cavity found in other annelids, is reduced to small channels. Both groups are hermaphrodites and have a clitellum, but leeches typically differ from the oligochaetes in having suckers at both ends and in having ring markings that do not correspond with their internal segmentation. They are closely related to the oligochaetes, which include the earthworm, and like them have soft, muscular segmented bodies that can lengthen and contract. We seek to retell the story of our beginnings.Leeches are segmented parasitic or predatory worms that comprise the subclass Hirudinea within the phylum Annelida. Our open community is dedicated to digging into the origins of our species on planet earth, and question wherever the discoveries might take us.
![leech ancient glyph leech ancient glyph](https://www.ancient-code.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Gosford-Glyphs-shattering-mainstream-history.jpg)
We’re the only Pop Archaeology site combining scientific research with out-of-the-box perspectives.īy bringing together top experts and authors, this archaeology website explores lost civilizations, examines sacred writings, tours ancient places, investigates ancient discoveries and questions mysterious happenings. The goal of Ancient Origins is to highlight recent archaeological discoveries, peer-reviewed academic research and evidence, as well as offering alternative viewpoints and explanations of science, archaeology, mythology, religion and history around the globe. And while some people may seem content with the story as it stands, our view is that there exist countless mysteries, scientific anomalies and surprising artifacts that have yet to be discovered and explained.
![leech ancient glyph leech ancient glyph](https://cdn-prod.medicalnewstoday.com/content/images/articles/321/321336/leech-therapy-introduced-to-arm.jpg)
Mystical Egyptian Amulet Depicting Protective Deity Found in TurkeyĪt Ancient Origins, we believe that one of the most important fields of knowledge we can pursue as human beings is our beginnings.
![leech ancient glyph leech ancient glyph](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/jEFV0VcRoVs/maxresdefault.jpg)
![leech ancient glyph leech ancient glyph](https://i.redd.it/027x3vg99jw71.png)
For two years, researchers have been grappling with its origin and significance. An extraordinary discovery has left experts perplexed-a 500-pound rock slab adorned with an ancient Egyptian symbol found in the U.S.