Canegallo, 1929
Description
Small leech-shaped but unpigmented worms, without prostomium or chaetae. Anteriormost four segments fused to form head. Posterior end is modified as sucker-like adhesive disk; ventral edge of mouth also acting as adhesive organ. Body terete, trunk widening gradually. Head broader than the first subsequent segments. Jaws trapezoidal or kidney-shaped, most often with six teeth on upper jaw and five on lower jaw, one tooth somewhat bigger in the middle and 1-3 smaller ones on both sides. Spermathecal duct about twice as long as ampulla. Body length 6 mm. Similar to Branchiobdella balcanica and Branchiobdella pentodonta with respect to jaws. Differing from the former in the shape of trunk, but from the latter only in the proportions of spermatheca (internal character).
Crawling like leech on the body of crayfish.
Distribution
Southern Europe.
Ecology
In freshwater, living on body surface of crayfishes.
Reproduction
Sexual only. Eggs laid in cocoons attached with one end to body of crayfish.
Literature
Canegallo, 1929: 214-224; Pop, 1965: 227-228; Karaman, 1970: 329-330, Figs 5, 9, 11; Kasprzak, 1981: 216, Figs 872-879.