ERPOBDELLA OCTOCULATA

Order ARHYNCHOBDELLIDA

Family ERPOBDELLIDAE

Erpobdella octoculata (Linnaeus, 1758)

Identification

Key, plus text and illustrations, is provided by Elliott and Dobson (2015).

Distribution

One of the most common and widespread species of freshwater leech with records from Cornwall to Orkney. Relatively uncommon in northern Scotland. Recent records from 1,339 hectads.

Habitat and ecology

Feeds on a variety of aquatic invertebrates, and dead or moribund fish and amphibians. Occurs in almost all freshwater habitats.

Red dots are historical (> 10 years old), black dots current (<= 10 years old).

Image by James Logan.

Image by Sylvia Meller.

Image by Rosemary Winnall.