Glossiphonia complanata ( Linnaeus, 1758 )

Šatkauskienė, Ingrida & Rutkauskaitė-Sucilienė, Jurgita, 2022, The present state of the leech fauna (Annelida: Hirudinea) in Lithuania, Zootaxa 5115 (1), pp. 47-62 : 52

Glossiphonia complanata ( Linnaeus, 1758)

( Figures 2E–F )

Material examined. Imsrė (Nr. 13), n=3, 10.vi.2019; Viešvilė (Nr. 12), n=1, 10.vi.2019; Mūšia (Nr. 14), n=2, 18.vi.2018; Maišia (Nr. 15), n=7, vii–viii.2019; Neris (Nr. 18), n=2, vii–viii. 2019; Šventoji (Nr. 20), n=6, 7.viii.2018; Šventoji (Nr. 21), n=4, 17.vi.2018; Baltieji Lakajai (Nr. 22), n=2, 5.viii.2018; Siesartis (Nr. 23), n=1, 8.vii. 2019; Curonian lagoon (Nr. 41), n=2, 19.vii.2019.

Diagnosis. Body flat, leaf–shape. 20–30 mm length, and 10 mm width. Dorsal surface usually striped by two paramedial dark lines interrupted by papillae ( Fig. 2E–F ) ( Kaygorodova 2012, Haaren et al. 2004). The ventral surface has lateral lines more prominent in the anterior part. Anterior sucker is triangular. Posterior sucker is disc shaped. Three pairs of eyespots located on the anterior somites ( Fig. 2F ).

Habitat. Glossiphonia complanata occurred in stagnant water bodies with abundant vegetation and molluscs. Usually, it was found hidden under submerged wood or stones. Specimens with attached offspring were found from end of May.

Distribution. Holarctic species, commonly found in Europe. In Lithuania it is widely distributed in various locations and regions ( Table 1 ).

Figures

FIGURE 2. Freshwater leeches in Lithuania: ventral view of Alboglossiphonia heteroclita specimen with eggs (A) and dorsal view of the head region (B). Dorsal view of the head region of Hemiclepsis marginata (C). Dorsal view of Placobdella costata whole specimen (D). Dorsal view of Glossiphonia complanata whole specimen (E) and dorsal view of the head (F).