Question map
Not attempted Correct Incorrect ★ Bookmarked
Loading…
Q14 (CDS-I/2004) Science & Technology › Basic Science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) › Animal diversity behaviour Answer Verified

Among the following sanguivorous (blood sucking) is

Result
Your answer: —  Â·  Correct: A
Explanation

Sanguivorous organisms are those that feed exclusively or primarily on blood. The term is derived from the Latin 'sanguis' (blood) and 'vorare' (to devour) [t1][t2]. Leeches (Hirudinea) are well-known examples of sanguivorous parasites that use specialized suckers and bioactive chemicals in their saliva, such as anticoagulants (hirudin) and anesthetics, to feed on the blood of vertebrate hosts without being detected [t3][t4][t5]. In contrast, earthworms are typically detritivores that feed on organic matter in soil [t6]. Nereis is a genus of polychaete worms that are generally predatory or scavengers in marine environments [t6]. Ascaris is an endoparasite that lives in the human intestine and derives nutrition from digested food rather than blood [c2]. Therefore, among the given options, only the leech is classified as sanguivorous [c4][t1].

Sources

  1. [1] https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/immunology-and-microbiology/sanguivore
  2. [2] Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 3: Health: The Ultimate Treasure > Activity 3.4: Let us find out > p. 35
  3. [3] Science , class X (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 5: Life Processes > 5.2.2 Heterotrophic Nutrition > p. 84
How others answered
Each bar shows the % of students who chose that option. Green bar = correct answer, blue outline = your choice.
Community Performance
Out of everyone who attempted this question.
81%
got it right
✓ Thank you! We'll review this.

SIMILAR QUESTIONS

IAS · 2021 · Q48 Relevance score: -3.73

Which of the following are detritivores? 1. Earthworms 2. Jellyfish 3. Millipedes 4. Seahorses 5. Woodlice Select the correct answer using the code given below:

CDS-I · 2021 · Q114 Relevance score: -3.82

Which one among the following is a free living animal ?

NDA-II · 2013 · Q92 Relevance score: -4.09

Which one among the following animals does not undergo periodic moulting of their external body covering?

CDS-II · 2014 · Q19 Relevance score: -4.73

Which one among the following pairs is not correctly matched ?

CDS-I · 2014 · Q118 Relevance score: -5.50

Among the following animals, choose the one having three pairs of legs.