HELOBDELLA STAGNALIS

Order RHYNCHOBELLIDA

Family GLOSSIPHONIIDAE

Helobdella stagnalis (Linnaeus, 1758)

Identification

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

Distribution

One of the most common and widespread leech species. Found across Great Britain, from Land’s End to Shetland. Recent records from 1,128 hectads.

Habitat and ecology

Feeds on the bodily fluids of molluscs, worms, crustaceans and aquatic insect larvae.

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

Image by Ric Else.