More than 35 years later, Bdellovibrio biology is undergoing a revival owing to the original, pioneering genetics work of Thomashow and colleagues (13), which has been followed up by genome sequencing and the development of new gene inactivation methods to study the function of these bacteria (32, 42, 60).
They also have five pairs of eyes. The Freshwater Leech is a parasite that feeds on the blood of fish, frogs, turtles, and mammals. It should not be confused with other leeches, most of which prey only on insects, snails, and small creatures.
The majority of leeches thrive in freshwater environments, though some species can be found on land and in the sea, too. Of the 700 different species of leeches, 100 are marine, 90 are terrestrial and the remaining 510 prefer habitats like your lake or pond. One of the more common leeches found in North America is the Freshwater Leech or North American Leech. This brownish-green worm with black and red spots grows to about 2 inches long and lives in lakes, marshes and slow-moving streams.