Moray Eel Leech — printable fact sheet

Free to print or save as PDF. Great for classrooms, homeschooling, and young explorers.

Download PDF

Creature Atlas

Animal Fact Sheet

Name: ____________________

Date: ____________________

Moray Eel Leech

Zeylanicobdella arugamensis

The Moray Eel Leech is a parasitic annelid commonly found attached to the skin or gills of moray eels and other marine fish in tropical and subtropical waters. This leech is elongated, flexible, and capable of expanding significantly as it feeds on the blood of its host. It is k…

Classification

Invertebrate

Family

Piscicolidae

Habitat

Coastal marine and brackish waters, often associated with coral reefs and estuaries

Diet

Parasitic (feeds on the blood of fish)

Conservation status

Least Concern

Lifespan

1-2 years

Weight

1-3 grams

Scientific name

Zeylanicobdella arugamensis

Did you know?

Despite their name, Moray Eel Leeches do not exclusively parasitize moray eels—they are capable of infesting a variety of marine fish species.
Moray Eel Leeches can survive for extended periods without feeding by entering a state of reduced metabolic activity. Their attachment to fish hosts is so strong that removal can sometimes cause injury to the host. They are frequently used in research to study host-parasite interactions in marine environments.

What I learned

Draw the moray eel leech

Want the whole set?

Get printable fact-sheet packs, coloring pages, and classroom worksheet bundles for dozens of animals — ready to download and print.

Browse printable packs

Get a free printable each week

Join the newsletter for a new Creature of the Week + printables.