 | This article needs to be updated. (September 2021) |
| Hirudo medicinalis | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Annelida |
| Clade: | Pleistoannelida |
| Clade: | Sedentaria |
| Class: | Clitellata |
| Subclass: | Hirudinea |
| Order: | Arhynchobdellida |
| Family: | Hirudinidae |
| Genus: | Hirudo |
| Species: | H. medicinalis
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| Binomial name | |
| Hirudo medicinalis | |
Hirudo medicinalis, or the European medicinal leech, is one of several species of leeches used as medicinal leeches.
Other species of Hirudo sometimes also used as medicinal leeches include H. orientalis, H. troctina, and H. verbana. The Asian medicinal leech includes Hirudinaria manillensis, and the North American medicinal leech is Macrobdella decora.
Medicinal leech populations were reduced significantly in many countries during the 19th century due to the high demand in medical contexts, and remain endangered in many countries today.[3]
- ^ Utevsky S, Zagmajster M, Trontelj P (2014). "Hirudo medicinalis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T10190A21415816. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T10190A21415816.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ "The CITES Appendices". cites.org. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Retrieved 2022-01-14.
- ^ Kutschera U, Elliott J (2014-11-18). "The European medicinal leech Hirudo medicinalis L.: Morphology and occurrence of an endangered species". Zoosystematics and Evolution. 90 (2): 271–280. doi:10.3897/zse.90.8715. ISSN 1860-0743.