WoRMS source details
Burreson, Eugene M. (2020). Marine and estuarine leeches (Hirudinida : Ozobranchidae and Piscicolidae) of Australia and New Zealand with a key to the species. Invertebrate Systematics. 34(3): 235-259.
380578
10.1071/is19048 [view]
Burreson, Eugene M.
2020
Marine and estuarine leeches (Hirudinida : Ozobranchidae and Piscicolidae) of Australia and New Zealand with a key to the species
Invertebrate Systematics
34(3): 235-259
Publication
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Marine leeches are sanguivorous parasites either on sea turtles (family Ozobranchidae) or on elasmobranch and teleost fishes (family Piscicolidae), with the exception of Mysidobdella, which may feed on mysid shrimp. The marine leeches of Australia and New Zealand are poorly known, especially those on teleost fishes. Collections of marine leeches from all major museums in Australia and New Zealand were examined, as well as many specimens sent to the author. Ozobranchus branchiatus and O. margoi were found on sea turtles in Australia. Seven genera and 14 species of fish leeches were found in Australia; 6 genera and 10 species of fish leeches were found in New Zealand. Two genera (Pontobdella and Branchellion) and four species (P. leucothela, P. moorei, B. australis and B. plicobranchus) occur in both Australia and New Zealand. No genus is endemic to Australia, but four species are endemic based on current records (Austrobdella bilobata, Austrobdella translucens, Trachelobdella leptocephali and Pterobdella platycephalus). Two genera (Bdellamaris and Leporinabdella) and three species (B. manteri, B. eptatreti, and L. digglesi) are endemic to New Zealand based on current records. The marine leeches of Australia and New Zealand are a mix of endemic species, those of tropical or subtropical origin, and those of subantarctic origin.
Australia
New Zealand
New Zealand
Systematics, Taxonomy
Date
action
by
Branchellion parkeri Richardson, 1949 accepted as Branchellion australis Leigh-Sharpe, 1916 (source of synonymy)
Branchellion plicobranchus Raj, 1953 (taxonomy source)
Ozobranchus branchiatus (Menzies, 1791) (additional source)
Pontobdella benhami Richardson, 1950 accepted as Pontobdella leucothela Schmarda, 1861 (source of synonymy)
Pontobdella leucothela Schmarda, 1861 (redescription)
Pontobdella moorei Oka, 1910 (status source)
Branchellion plicobranchus Raj, 1953 (taxonomy source)
Ozobranchus branchiatus (Menzies, 1791) (additional source)
Pontobdella benhami Richardson, 1950 accepted as Pontobdella leucothela Schmarda, 1861 (source of synonymy)
Pontobdella leucothela Schmarda, 1861 (redescription)
Pontobdella moorei Oka, 1910 (status source)
Habitat
Commonly infests the green sea turtle Chelonia mydas (L.); it has rarely been reported on other sea turtles. [details]
Spelling
According to Burreson (2020) the species was named Branchellion plicusbranchus by Raj (1953 &1954) and later ... [details]
Type specimen
Burreson (2020) reports that "The holotype, stated by Richardson (1953) to be in the collection of the Zoology ... [details]
Type specimen
Although Richardson (1950) does not designate a type, Burreson (2020) found that a specimen at Te Papa, MNZ, ... [details]
