What are leeches, and are they dangerous?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. What are leeches, and are they dangerous?

The Big Idea

Leeches live in some ponds and lakes! They sound scary. Are they dangerous?

Flat Worms

Step one: Flat Worms. Leeches are flat, soft-bodied worms with a sucker at each end. Leeches have no bones at all, so they can stretch long and thin or squish short and round.

What They Eat

Step two: What They Eat. Most pond leeches eat snails and worms. Only a few kinds feed on the blood of animals.

Part of the Web

Step three: Part of the Web. Leeches swim by rippling their bodies and attach to rocks and plants. They're part of a healthy food web, and fish and birds eat them.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look! One at each end. Rippling. Snails and worms. Fish and birds.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! Leeches have no bones. Most eat snails. They swim by rippling. Fish eat leeches.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! Look at pictures of pond worms and leeches. Find the suckers on the leech. Draw how a leech moves. Draw how a worm moves. How are they different?

Outro

Leeches are flat, soft-bodied worms with a sucker at each end. Most pond leeches eat snails and worms, and only a few feed on blood. They swim by rippling and are part of a healthy food web that feeds fish and birds. Science is amazing! Remember, every big discovery starts with a small question. Keep looking, keep learning, and keep asking why! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!