THEROMYZON TESSULATUM

Order RHYNCHOBELLIDA

Family GLOSSIPHONIIDAE

Theromyzon tessulatum (O.F. Müller, 1774)

Identification

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

Distribution

Widespread and relatively common species with records from Land’s End to Shetland. Known from 562 hectads.

Habitat and ecology

Ectoparasite of water birds. Occurs in a variety of freshwater habitats except fast flowing streams.

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