záló

Záló refers to a type of leech, specifically belonging to the subclass Hirudinea. These segmented annelid worms are often characterized by their bloodsucking habits, although not all species feed on blood. Many zaló species are predatory, consuming small invertebrates found in their aquatic or terrestrial environments. The word "záló" is often used in a general sense to describe leeches in certain regions.

Leeches possess suckers at both the anterior and posterior ends, which they use for locomotion and attachment. The anterior sucker typically contains the mouth, which may have jaws lined with teeth for piercing skin or may simply ingest soft-bodied prey. Many zaló species secrete anticoagulants into their hosts to ensure a continuous blood flow during feeding.

Historically, leeches, including zaló, have been used in medicinal leeches therapy, a practice known as hirudotherapy. This practice, though largely replaced by modern medicine, involved applying leeches to the skin to draw blood, believed to alleviate various ailments. Today, medicinal leeches are still used in specific medical contexts, such as after reconstructive surgery to promote blood circulation. The study of leeches falls under the field of annelid biology.