---
title: "Duck Leech"
description: "Theromyzon tessulatum — Other animals. Theromyzon tessulatum is a species of leech in the family Glossiphoniidae."
canonical: https://animalchecklist.com/animal/duck-leech
last_updated: 2026-09-20
---

# Duck Leech

> Theromyzon tessulatum — Other animals. Theromyzon tessulatum is a species of leech in the family Glossiphoniidae.

- Scientific name: *Theromyzon tessulatum*
- Category: `other` (Other animals)
- Habitats: `freshwater` (Lakes & rivers)
- iNaturalist observations: 248
- Wikidata: [Q150856](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q150856)
- iNaturalist taxon: [540672](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/540672)

## Names

- en: Duck Leech
- de: Entenegel
- fr: Sangsue des canards
- nl: Eendenbloedzuiger
- pl: Pijawka kacza

## Countries with the most observations

GB (29), FI (20), DE (15), PL (12), RU (11), CZ (9), DK (8), FR (6), LT (5), SE (4), CA (3)

## Summary

Theromyzon tessulatum is a species of leech in the family Glossiphoniidae. It is a haematophagous (blood-sucking) leech, found in freshwater habitats in Europe.

Text: Wikipedia (en), CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theromyzon_tessulatum

## Photo

![Duck Leech](https://animalchecklist.com/img/animals/duck-leech/medium.jpg)

Photo: Kian Hayles-Cotton · CC0 · inaturalist — https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/357511547

## Machine access

`GET https://animalchecklist.com/api/v1/animals/duck-leech?lang=en` — see [openapi.json](https://animalchecklist.com/openapi.json).