Open AccessTrocheta ariescornuta n. sp. (Annelida, Hirudinida: Erpobdellidae) – a new cavernicolous leech from Motena Cave in Georgia
Author(s) -
Clemens Grosser,
Shalva Barjadze,
Eter Maghradze
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
ecologica montenegrina
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.534
H-Index - 10
eISSN - 2337-0173
pISSN - 2336-9744
DOI - 10.37828/em.2021.44.5
Subject(s) - cave , leech , biology , georgian , zoology , anatomy , ecology , linguistics , philosophy , world wide web , computer science
A new leech species Trocheta ariescornuta n. sp. is described and illustrated here based on two specimens found in Motena Cave in western Georgia, Caucasus. This species differs from the known congeners and other similar Erpobdellids of the region, including Georgian cavernicolous leech - Dina ratschaensis Kobaķhidze, 1958 in a complex of external and internal morphological characteristics: colour, annulation, position of genital pores, shape of the genital atrium with strong coiled cornua (similar to the horns of a ram). Cave inhabitant invertebrate community for Motena Cave is provided.