Limnotrachelobdella okae: The Marine Leech That Feeds on Farmed Fish
Summary
This article discusses Limnotrachelobdella okae, a marine leech species that feeds on fish, particularly in aquaculture settings. It explains how fish farming operations can inadvertently create feeding grounds for these parasitic leeches, which attach to fish and feed on their blood. The article highlights the ecological relationship between marine leeches and fish, and the challenges this poses for fish farmers.
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Key quotes
· 4 pulledDo you like eating fish? Well so do some leeches.
Most people only know about the leeches that feed on humans, but there are also numerous other species of leeches out there, and many of them are found in the sea.
As the saying goes, 'there are plenty of fish in the sea', so they are often the target of these leeches' appetites.
And if you're going to be farming fish in the sea, there's a chance that you have inadvertently opened up an all-you-can-eat buffet for some hungry leeches.
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