Question

Hirudinaria is
A) Omnivorous
B) Carnivorous
C) Herbivorous
D) Sanguivorous

Answer 1

Hirudinaria is commonly called as Indian leech which is found mainly in freshwater ponds, lakes, swamps etc. Blood clotting is prevented by secreting a protein called hirudin. Leeches also inject an anaesthetic substance which prevents the host from feeling their bite.

Complete answer:
Lets discusses all given options:
A) Omnivorous: These are the organisms which have capability of eating plants and animals both. They get nutrition from plant and animal remains and can digest carbohydrates, fats and fibres. Examples are humans, bears, etc.
B) Carnivorous: These are the organisms which solely depend on animals to fulfil their food needs through meat or animal tissue. These animals are highly adapted to feed on other animals, such as their teeth and claws are adaptations for capturing and tearing prey. Examples are Lion, Tiger, etc.
C) Herbivorous: These are the organisms which fulfil their food needs through plants materials only. These animals are well adapted to eat plant materials such as wide flat teeth are adaptation found in herbivorous organisms to grinding grass and other hard material. Examples are Cow, goat, etc.
D) Sanguivorous: These are the organisms which feed on blood of other organisms, also called as blood sucking animals. These animals also show great adaptations to suck blood from other organisms such as sense organs to find their hosts. Examples are mosquito, vampire bats etc. Examples are Hirudinaria,vampire bat, female mosquito etc. Hirudinaria it is sanguivorous (blood-sucking) sucking the blood of fishes and frogs, and also of cattle or human beings when they enter the pond.

Thus, the correct answer is option ‘D’ i.e, ‘Sanguivorous’.

Note: Leech feeds by sucking blood of animals such as cattle, frogs and humans. During feeding the leech attaches to its host by its posterior sucker. It makes a triradiate or Y shaped cut in the skin of the host by its jaws. Muscular pharynx sucks blood and saliva is also secreted simultaneously.