Facebook pixel Medicinal Leech Project | Pepperdine University | Seaver College Skip to main content
Pepperdine | Seaver College

Medicinal Leech Project

Kaleb Roldan

Members of the laboratory are investigating how medicinal leeches (Hirudo medicinalis) respond to various chemical and thermal stimuli to gain a deeper understanding of their sensory biology and behavior, such as “scanning” when searching for chemical cues. The goal is to determine how factors such as temperature stimulus and different chemical cues influence leech movement and feeding behavior. By identifying how leeches sense and respond to their surroundings, this research aims to better understand their sensory mechanisms and establish controlled parameters for future experimental studies.