Americobdella is a genus of carnivorous leeches from southern Chile, comprising only the species, Americobdella valdiviana.
Americobdella valdiviana | |
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Scientific classification | |
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Genus: | Americobdella
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Species: | A. valdiviana
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Binomial name | |
Americobdella valdiviana (Philippi, 1872)
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Macrobdella valdiviana Philippi, 1872 |
Taxonomy
editPhilippi, who originally classified A. valdiviana as an erpobdellid leech, noted that Americobdella valdiviana was similar to Trocheta (now synonymized with Erpobdella) "in both appearance and habit".[1] It is phylogenically between two major groups of leeches, the Rhynchobdellida and the Arhynchobdellida.[1] Recent work has suggested A. valdiviana is more closely related to the Erpobdelliformes than the Hirudiniformes.[1]
Description
editAmericobdella valdiviana is a predator and has only rudimentary jaws. Because of these features, it was originally classified as an erpobdellid leech.[1] A. valdiviana is grey-coloured on the dorsal side with a yellowish ventral side. Whether eyes are present in this species is a matter of debate. While Philippi originally described Americobdella valdiviana as having no eyes, other authors have indicated that eyes are indeed present.[1]
Diet
editA. valdiviana feeds on earthworms.[1]