Medicinal Leeches (IMAGE)

Consortium for the Barcode of Life (CBOL)

Medicinal Leeches

Caption

DNA barcoding shows some leeches marketed as Hirudo medicinalis, used in some modern surgical procedures, are in fact other leech species, a finding that impacts regulatory statutes and raise other concerns and questions. Shown here: Hirudo verbana.

Credit

Mark Siddall, American Museum of Natural History

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