t_roberts

Wildlife Illustration - Aquifer Leech

Added 2023-03-10 17:01:42 +0000 UTC

Chaetoderma repens

These tube-like mollusks are similar to a shell-less clam or mussel. They can grow to a length of two meters and are equipped with two retractable, mucosal proboscises which branch into many thousands of microscopic tubes. These small tubes, which are able to penetrate even the densest tissues by finding microscopic fractures in its structure, sap liquid moisture from which the Leech feeds. Aquifer Leech are typically found in well-oxygenated aquatic environments within the pit such as moisture crops and water bladders . They inhabit the soft, porous substrates of these aquatic environments, often forming large aggregations to feed on nutrient-rich organic matter suspended in the water. The Aquifer Leech also provide an important ecological service, as they help to aerate and clean the substrate of these aquatic bodies, by consuming organic material and expelling crystal clear water in the process. Aside from their ecological importance, the species have been utilized to treat water to an extremely high purity, requiring far less energy than a traditional desalination plant. Additionally, their mucosal proboscis is used in medical research as a way to perform research on the human vascular system and its response to various conditions.