GLOSSIPHONIA VERRUCATA

Order RHYNCHOBELLIDA

Family GLOSSIPHONIIDAE

Glossiphonia verrucata (Fr. Müller, 1846)

                = Boreobdella verrucata

Identification

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

Distribution

Widespread but localised in England and eastern parts of Wales. Recent records from 167 hectads. Recently recorded from central Scotland (Lindsay et al. 2020).

Habitat and ecology

Feeds on molluscs by sucking their body fluids. Found in lakes, canals, and slow-flowing streams and rivers.

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

Image by Craig Macadam.