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Americobdella

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Americobdella valdiviana
Scientific classification
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Genus:
Americobdella
Species:
A. valdiviana
Binomial name
Americobdella valdiviana
(Philippi, 1872)
Synonyms

Macrobdella valdiviana Philippi, 1872

Americobdella is a genus of carnivorous leeches from southern Chile, comprising only the species, Americobdella valdiviana.

Taxonomy

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Philippi, who originally classified A. valdiviana as an erpobdellid leech, noted that Americobdella valdiviana was similar to Trocheta (now synonymized with Erpobdella) "in both appearance and habit".[1] It is phylogenically between two major groups of leeches, the Rhynchobdellida and the Arhynchobdellida.[1] Recent work has suggested A. valdiviana is more closely related to the Erpobdelliformes than the Hirudiniformes.[1]

Description

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Americobdella valdiviana is a predator and has only rudimentary jaws. Because of these features, it was originally classified as an erpobdellid leech.[1] A. valdiviana is grey-coloured on the dorsal side with a yellowish ventral side. Whether eyes are present in this species is a matter of debate. While Philippi originally described Americobdella valdiviana as having no eyes, other authors have indicated that eyes are indeed present.[1]

Diet

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A. valdiviana feeds on earthworms.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Siddall, Mark E.; Elizabeth Borda (2004). "Leech Collections from Chile Including Two New Species of Helobdella" (PDF). American Museum Novitates. New York: American Museum of Natural History. ISSN 0003-0082. Retrieved 22 March 2010.