Abstract
To date, the only species of leech reported from the American Alligator, Alligator mississippiensis is Placobdella multilineata. Seven specimens of a previously undescribed species of Placobdella were collected from the feet and lower jaw of a single female alligator from the Pascagoula River Wildlife Management Area, George County, Mississippi. The new species was named Placobdella siddalli Richardson & Moser, sp. n., in honor of the contributions of Dr. Mark Siddall to our understanding of the biology of leeches. Placobdella siddalli Richardson & Moser is similar to other papillated members of the genus Placobdella, but differs from Placobdella ali Hughes & Siddall, 2007, Placobdella rugosa (Verrill, 1874), Placobdella multilineata Moore, 1953, and Placobdella papillifera (Verrill, 1872) in coloration, papillation, ventral striping, and in the possession of a relatively large caudal sucker. In addition, molecular comparison of 626 nucleotides of CO-I between the new species and other papillated leeches (P. ali, P. multilineata, Placobdella ornata, P. papillifera, P. rugosa) revealed interspecific differences of 14.0–18.0% (88–113 nucleotides).
Highlights
There are 22 recognized species of Glossiphoniid leeches in the genus Placobdella parasitizing birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles (Moser et al 2014)
Placobdella siddalli Richardson & Moser most closely resembles P. multilineata, P. ali, and P. rugosa. Both P. ali and P. rugosa have faint but distinct brown pigmented lines corresponding to paralateral and paramedial papillae, that are lacking in P. siddalli
In P. ali, the dorso-medial line is unbroken, whereas it is broken in P. siddalli Richardson & Moser
Summary
There are 22 recognized species of Glossiphoniid leeches in the genus Placobdella parasitizing birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles (Moser et al 2014). The only species of leech reported from the American Alligator, Alligator mississippiensis (Daudin, 1802) Cuvier, 1807 is Placobdella multilineata Moore, 1953. Placobdella multilineata is a generalist parasite of reptiles having been reported from turtles, snakes, and alligators from throughout the southeastern United States and Mississippi River Valley as far north as Illinois and Iowa (Klemm 1985; Moser, Richardson, McAllister, et al 2014). In the course of a routine parasitological survey of blood parasites of Mississippi alligators, seven specimens of a previously undescribed species of Placobdella were collected and are described
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