Hirudinformes
Hirudinformes

Limnatis africana and Macrobdella decora
medicinal leeches
Mark E. Siddall & E. M. Burreson *
._______ Macrobdellidae
|
________| ._______________ Haemadipsidae
| |
\______| ._______ Haemopidae
\______|
\_____________ Hirudinidae
Containing clade: Arynchobdellida
Table of Contents
Characteristics of the Group
Sources of Information on the Internet
References
Characteristics of the Hirudinidae
Apomorphies
- ovisacs spheriod
- coalescence of nephridial funnel apparatus into "ciliated organ"
- urinary bladder present
- cocoons not cemented to substrate
- female median reproductive apparatus modified into vaginal tube
Sources of Information on the Internet
References
- Sawyer, R. T. 1986. Leech biology and behaviour. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. 10065 pp.
- Siddall, M. E., and Burreson, E. M. 1995. Phylogeny of the Euhirudinea:
Independent
evolution of blood feeding by leeches? Canadian Journal of Zoology, 73:
1048-1064
About This Page

Mark E. Siddall & Gene M. Burreson
Email: mes@vims.edu or gene@vims.edu
Virginia Institute of Marine Science
School of Marine Science
College of William and Mary
Gloucester Point, Virginia 23062, USA
Page copyright © 1995 Mark E. Siddall
Last modified 30 April, 1996