''Helobdella'' is a genus of
leech
Leeches are segmented parasitic or predatory worms that comprise the subclass Hirudinea within the phylum Annelida. They are closely related to the oligochaetes, which include the earthworm, and like them have soft, muscular segmented bodie ...
es in the family
Glossiphoniidae
Glossiphoniidae are a family of freshwater proboscis-bearing leeches. These leeches are generally flattened, and have a poorly defined anterior sucker. Most suck the blood of freshwater vertebrates like amphibians, crocodilians and aquatic tu ...
, the freshwater jawless leeches. They occur worldwide.
[Kutschera, U., et al. (2013)]
Description of a new leech species from North America, ''Helobdella austinensis'' n. sp.(Hirudinea: Glossiphoniidae), with observations on its feeding behaviour.
''Zoosyst Evol'' 89(2) 239-46.
These are small, flat leeches which do not feed on blood.
[Siddall, M. E. and E. Borda. (2003)]
Phylogeny and revision of the leech genus ''Helobdella'' (Glossiphoniidae) based on mitochondrial gene sequences and morphological data and a special consideration of the ''triserialis'' complex.
''Zoologica Scripta'' 32(1), 23-33.
Several species in this genus are used as
model organism
A model organism (often shortened to model) is a non-human species that is extensively studied to understand particular biological phenomena, with the expectation that discoveries made in the model organism will provide insight into the workin ...
s in the study of
developmental biology
Developmental biology is the study of the process by which animals and plants grow and develop. Developmental biology also encompasses the biology of Regeneration (biology), regeneration, asexual reproduction, metamorphosis, and the growth and di ...
.
[
It has been difficult to define species in this genus without DNA analysis. Like other leeches in this family, some ''Helobdella'' species are polymorphic, coming in different colors and patterns. On the other hand, some uniformly colored species are actually ]cryptic species complex
In biology, a species complex is a group of closely related organisms that are so similar in appearance and other features that the boundaries between them are often unclear. The taxa in the complex may be able to hybridize readily with each oth ...
es that may be divided into separate species with genetic analysis.[
As of 2004 there were approximately 40 described species, with species being described and reclassified continually.][Siddall, M. E. and E. Borda. (2004)]
Leech collections from Chile including two new species of ''Helobdella'' (Annelida: Hirudinida).
''American Museum Novitates'' 1-18.
Species include:[
*'' Helobdella austinensis''][
*'' Helobdella chaquensis''
*'' Helobdella cordobensis''
*'' Helobdella cryptica''
*'' Helobdella duplicata''
*'' Helobdella elongata''
*'
*'' Helobdella longicollis''
*'' Helobdella malvinensis''
*'' Helobdella michaelseni''
*'' Helobdella modesta''
*'' Helobdella paranensis''
*'' Helobdella pichipanan''
*'' Helobdella obscura''
*'']Helobdella robusta
''Helobdella robusta'' is a leech of the family ''Glossiphoniidae''. Its genome has been sequenced by the Joint Genome Institute
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Joint Genome Institute (JGI), first located in Walnut Creek then Berkeley, ...
''
*'' Helobdella similis''
*''Helobdella stagnalis
''Helobdella stagnalis'' is a species of ''Helobdella''.
The species was described in 1758 by Carolus Linnaeus as ''Hirudo stagnalis''.
It has cosmopolitan distribution
In biogeography, cosmopolitan distribution is the term for the range o ...
''
*'' Helobdella triserialis''
*'' Helobdella virginiae''[ Oceguera-Figueroa, A. (2007)]
Especie nueva de sanguijuela del género Helobdella (Rhynchobdellida: Glossiphoniidae) del lago de Catemaco, Veracruz, México.
''Acta Zoológica Mexicana'' 23(1) 15-22.
*'' Helobdella wodzickiorum''
*'' Helobdella xenoica''
References
External link
{{Taxonbar, from=Q5174640
Leeches