HIRUDINIDAE Meaning and
Definition
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Hirudinidae is a term used in the field of zoology to refer to a family of segmented worms known as leeches. Leeches are a type of invertebrate that belong to the phylum Annelida and subclass Hirudinea. The family Hirudinidae encompasses a wide variety of leech species and is one of the largest families within the subclass.
Members of the Hirudinidae family are characterized by their elongated, cylindrical body shape, divided into numerous segments. They possess a sucker at each end of their body that aids in locomotion and attachment to various surfaces. The anterior sucker is used for feeding while the posterior sucker helps with movement.
One of the distinguishing features of leeches in the family Hirudinidae is the production of a substance called hirudin. Hirudin is an anticoagulant that leeches secrete into their host's bloodstream during feeding. The presence of this compound aids in preventing the blood from clotting, allowing the leech to feed for a sufficient period of time.
Due to their ability to secrete hirudin, leeches from the family Hirudinidae have been utilized in various medical applications such as bloodletting and therapeutic procedures. Their anticoagulant properties make them valuable in the field of medicine, particularly in cases where blood clotting needs to be avoided.
In summary, hirudinidae is a family of segmented worms known as leeches, characterized by their cylindrical body shape, segmented structure, and the secretion of hirudin.
Common Misspellings for HIRUDINIDAE
- girudinidae
- birudinidae
- nirudinidae
- jirudinidae
- uirudinidae
- yirudinidae
- hurudinidae
- hjrudinidae
- hkrudinidae
- horudinidae
- h9rudinidae
- h8rudinidae
- hieudinidae
- hidudinidae
- hifudinidae
- hitudinidae
- hi5udinidae
- hi4udinidae
- hirydinidae
Etymology of HIRUDINIDAE
The word "hirudinidae" is derived from the genus name "Hirudo" and the suffix "-idae".
The genus name "Hirudo" comes from Latin and means "leech". It is believed to be derived from the Old High German word "hiure" or the Old English word "hyra", both meaning "leech".
The suffix "-idae" is a common suffix in taxonomy used to denote a family. It comes from the Greek word "idaia", meaning "belonging to". When applied to the word "Hirudo", it indicates that the family belongs to the genus Hirudo.
Similar spelling words for HIRUDINIDAE
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