Rhynchobdellida

Desserobdella phalera

leeches with a proboscis

Mark E. Siddall & E. M. Burreson *

    ,_____________________________________Ozobranchidae
    |                                             
____|  ,__________________________________Pontobdellinae
    |  |                                          
    |__|     ,____________________________Piscicolinae
       |     |                                    
       |_____|  ,_________________________Platybdellinae
             |  |                                 
             |__|                   ,_____Theromyzinae
                |                   |              
                |__Glossiphoniidae__|  ,__Glossiphoniinae
                                    |__|                           
                                       |__Haementeriinae

Containing clade: Hirudinea

Table of Contents

Characteristics of the Group
Sources of Information on the Internet
References

Characteristics of the Rynchobdellida

• pharynx modified into protrusible proboscis
• intestine cæcate
• cephalic eyespots arranged medially
• coelomic lacunae extend externally to the circular musculature (reverses in glossiphoniids)

Sources of Information on the Internet

• Life History Evolution

• Picture Gallery of Leeches

• Classification of Leeches

• (Discovery Channel Program) - NICE!

• Joel's Houdini the Leech, Riverdale School, Portland, OR

• Effect of ale, garlic, and soured cream on the appetite of leeches

• Leech Neurobiology Newsletter

• Building a better leech

• KAIST BioResource LAB
  and information on clotting mechanisms

References

• 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

Page copyright © 1995 Mark E. Siddall
Last modified 30 April, 1996