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A revision of the British leeches of the family Erpobdellidae, with a description of Dina lineata (O. F. Müller, 1774), a leech new to British fauna
Author(s) -
Mann K. H.
Publication year - 1952
Publication title -
proceedings of the zoological society of london
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.915
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1469-7998
pISSN - 0370-2774
DOI - 10.1111/j.1096-3642.1952.tb00317.x
Subject(s) - fauna , sewerage , leech , biology , zoology , ecology , nomenclature , geography , taxonomy (biology) , environmental science , environmental engineering , world wide web , computer science
Summary.1 Revised descriptions of the British leeches of the family Erpobdellidae are given, together with accounts of their principal variations. 2 Since the British Erpobdellidae cannot with certainty be identified by examination of external characters, a technique is described for separating the genera and species by the shape of the genital atrium. 3 The leech Dina lineata (O. F. Müller, 1774) is recorded in Britain for the first time. It was collected in a roadside pond rich in calcium and in organic matter. It is an isolated occurrence, probably an example of recent colonization. 4 Erpobdella testacea cannot establish itself in an environment favourable to E. octoculata , but in conditions of sewage pollution, or low total alkalinity, E. testacea becomes dominant. 5 The division of E. octoculata into var. vulgaris and var. atomaria is of no taxonomic significance, and should be discontinued. 6 Trocheta subviridis has been found most frequently in London and the Home Counties, but also occurs in Manchester, Gloucester, Glamorgan and Oxford. It is frequently associated with sewage works.