Checklist / Glossiphoniidae / Helobdella / Helobdella farmeri
Helobdella farmeri
· Glossiphoniidae
External morphology
The yellowbrown dorsal side of the body convex, with an orthogonal array of white pigment spots; in most specimens, six white spots arranged perpendicular to the body axis. Twelve longitudinal, dark stripes, inclusive of two more pronounced dark pigmented lines in the middle of the body, reaching from the head region (eyes) to the posterior sucker; no conical papillae present. Ventral side flat-concave, uniformly light-brown, with no pigment spots. Anus at segments XXVI/XXVII, located on the dorsal side of the body.
Internal morphology
Six branched crop caeca, 2 to 6 posteriorly curved. Intestine with four conspicuous lobes, reaching from segments XXIX through XXIV.
Habitat & range
- Habitat
- Freshwater
- Region
- North America
- Recorded from
- USA
Biology
Palo Alto, California
Original description
Kutschera, The taxonomic status of the San Francisco Bay area Leech Helobdella triserialis (SF) (Annelida Hirudinida Glossiphoniidae) with notes on its ecology. (2023). Biodiversity Journal, 14(4), 537-546