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STUDIES ON RARE AND POORLY KNOWN LEECHES (ANNELIDA: HIRUDINEA: GLOSSIPHONIIDAE) IN EASTERN NORTH AMERICA
Citation:
Smith, D. G. AND D J. Klemm. STUDIES ON RARE AND POORLY KNOWN LEECHES (ANNELIDA: HIRUDINEA: GLOSSIPHONIIDAE) IN EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. JOURNAL OF THE NORTH CAROLINA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE 119(4):137-149, (2003).
Impact/Purpose:
The goal of this research is to develop methods and indicators that are useful for evaluating the condition of aquatic communities, for assessing the restoration of aquatic communities in response to mitigation and best management practices, and for determining the exposure of aquatic communities to different classes of stressors (i.e., pesticides, sedimentation, habitat alteration).
Description:
Three taxa within the leech family Glossiphoniidae, Actinobdella inequiannulata, Placobdella hollensis, and Theromyzon spp., though widespread in eastern North America, remain poorly known with respect to their biology and systematics. All three taxa have been collected in New England and new information regarding their biology and anatomy have been recorded. A. inequiannulata broods eggs in a secreted sac, which is attached to the substrate and animal. The adult burrows and remains hidden under partially buried rocks during the brooding period. A. inequiannulata forms a sister group with Actinobdella pediculata within a polytypic genus group (Placobdella sensu lato). Placobdella hollensis is an active hunter and preys on both testudinate and mammal blood. The species has evolved several traits to undertake prey-seeking but retains the basic anatomical features of Placobdella sensu stricto. Theromyzon spp. is composed of several poorly known species and specimens collected in New England extend the range of the genus and show anatomical traits close to but not exactly as discussed for species elsewhere.