Question

Leeches and Earthworms are both categorized under the same class. How do their tegument differ?

Answer 1

Earthworms and Leeches are useful worms, which are categorized under the same class and phylum, but they belong to different sub classes.

Leeches are also segmented worms, which belong to the phylum Annelida and subclass Hirudinea. As leeches fall under the same phylum as that of the Earthworms, they also possess the common clitellum, and hence are categorized as hermaphrodites.

Earthworms have a segmented tube-like body connected by a continuous gut, a nerve and a blood vessel. The number of segments varies in different species from 37 up to 100 segments. The outside body is slimy and muscular.

The body of a leech is divided into 34 segments. The first 6 segments form an anterior oral sucker which is used to attach to the body of the host. A large posterior sucker is also found at the posterior end which helps in the locomotion of the animal. From a distance, a leech can resemble a slug.

Tegument are protective layer form of cells.