''Orobdella'' 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. It is the only genus in the

monotypic In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group (taxon) that contains only one immediately subordinate taxon. A monotypic species is one that does not include subspecies or smaller, infraspecific taxa. In the case of genera, the term "unispec ...

family Orobdellidae. They are large annelids, with the largest species (''Orobdella octonaria'') exceeding in length, but some are much smaller: mature individuals of ''Orobdella koikei'' can measure only . They inhabit the banks of mountain streams and feed on earthworms. The majority of species are

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...

to Japan; two species are known from Taiwan, one from Korea, and one from Russian Far East.

Species

''Orobdella'' contains 21 species, including the following:

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q21078384, from2=Q21217624 Leeches Annelid genera