Helobdella stagnalis (Hirudinea: Glossiphoniidae), the first facultative mussel-associated leech in Europe

• DOI: 10.37828/em.2022.54.5
• Publication Date: 2022-06-27T19:31:47Z
• Authors: Ivan N. Bolotov; Tatyana A. Eliseeva; Alexander V. Kond...; Mikhail Y. Gofarov; Ekaterina S. Kono...; Artem A. Lyubas; Ilya V. Vikhrev
• Keywords: Unionidae; Facultative; Obligate

The ecological group of mussel-associated freshwater leeches (Hirudinea) contains facultative and obligate inhabitants the mantle cavity mussels (Unionida) from Asia, Africa, North America, South America. Here, we report on record a leech in Europe present list its bivalve hosts. widespread species Helobdella stagnalis (Glossiphoniidae) was recovered as inhabitant native Anodonta anatina, Unio pictorum, U. tumidus, non-native Sinanodonta woodiana (Unionidae). Globally, assemblage 17 species, including four representatives: H. lineata modesta adiastola Europe.