Rhynchobdellida

Jawless leeches
Branchellion parkeri
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Annelida
Clade: Pleistoannelida
Clade: Sedentaria
Class: Clitellata
Subclass: Hirudinea
Infraclass: Euhirudinea
Order: Rhynchobdellida
Blanchard, 1893
Families

Rhynchobdellida (from the Greek rhynchos, mouth, and bdellein, sucking),[1] the jawless leeches[citation needed] or freshwater leeches,[2] are an order of aquatic leeches.[3][4] Despite the common name "freshwater leeches", species are found in both sea and fresh water. They are defined by the presence of a protrusible proboscis instead of jaws, and having colourless blood.[5][6][7] They move by "inchworming"[8] and are found worldwide. The order contains 110 species, divided into 41 genera and three families.[8] Members of the order range widely in length, usually between 7 and 40 mm.[2] They are hermaphrodite.[2] The order is not monophyletic.[9]

  1. ^ Mehlhorn, Heinz, ed. (2008), "Rhynchobdellida", Encyclopedia of Parasitology, Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer, p. 1249, doi:10.1007/978-3-540-48996-2_2723, ISBN 978-3-540-48996-2, retrieved 2022-11-27
  2. ^ a b c "Order Rhynchobdellida". keys.lucidcentral.org. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  3. ^ "Explore the Taxonomic Tree". FWS.gov. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  4. ^ Gulf of Mexico Origins, Waters, and Biota | Volume I: Biodiversity. Harte Research Institute. 2009. pp. 789–790. ISBN 9781603442695.
  5. ^ "Rhynchobdellida | leech order | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  6. ^ "Rhynchobdellida | Encyclopedia.com". www.encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  7. ^ "Definition of RHYNCHOBDELLIDA". www.merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  8. ^ a b "Rhynchobdellida - Encyclopedia of Life". eol.org. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  9. ^ Borda, Elizabeth; Sidall, Mark (2004-12-30). "Review of the evolution of life history strategies and phylogeny of the Hirudinida (Annelida: Oligochaeta)". Lauterbornia. 52: 7–15 – via ResearchGate.