Checklist / Erpobdellidae / Erpobdella / Erpobdella latestriata
Erpobdella latestriata
· Erpobdellidae
External morphology
Large leeches, adults up to 60 mm, exceptionally 70 mm, in length. Body ventrally flat, dorsal surface convex, preclitellar region cylindrical. In the pharynx, the pseudognatha are very small and soft, the cranial sucker is elongated. The postclitellar region with lateral fringes. The caudal sucker is large, reaching one half to two thirds the maximum body width. Broadened annulus b6; all annuli have more or less distinct furrows in themiddle. Annulus b6 sometimes splits into cl1 and c12. The male genital porus is in the furrow between b1/b2, thefemale gonopore in the furrow between b5/b6, the gonopores are thus separated by three annuli. The body colour is yellow cream white to buff with two broad dark pigmented stripes on the dorsal surface. They are bordered by sharp, dark longitudinal stripes. This gives the impression of four black dorsal lines. Each annulus bears bright spots, which are very prominent on the annuli a2 and b5.
Internal morphology
The atrial body issmall, well rounded, the cornua with broad insertion on the atrial body, thick, elongated, proximal sharply curved to connect with the ejaculatory ducts.
Habitat & range
- Habitat
- Freshwater
- Region
- Europe
- Recorded from
- Montenegro
Biology
Endemic. The species was found in the shallow littoral zone of Lake Prespa.
Junior synonyms
Dina latestriata
Original description
Neubert, Eike; Nesemann, Hasko. (1995). Contribution to the knowledge of the genus Dina Blanchard, 1892 (Hirudinea: Erpobdellidae). Hydrobiologia. 315(2): 89-94.
Sources used for this page
Picture:ISBN 9783827409270; Description: ISBN 9783827409270