Reproductive Behaviour and Parental Care of Helobdella striata (Hirudinea, Glossiphoniidae): a Leech that Feeds its Young

Abstract

The leech Helobdella striata Kutschera (1985) is a protandrous hermaphrodite. It copulates by hypodermic injection: a spermatophore is attached to the skin of the partner and sperm injected through it. During their male phase, the leeches copulate repeatedly and with different partners. In the female phase, 3 to 7 cocoons, each containing 2 to 20 eggs, are produced from the female gonopore and attached to the ventral side of the parent. The larvae which hatch from these eggs cling to the ventral side of the parent. After they have used up their yolk supply and have developed into juvenile leeches they remain attached to the parent for a further three weeks. Helobdella striata capture Tubifex worms and give them to the young they carry. This access to food allows the juveniles to grow from a size of 1 mm to 6 mm length while being carried and protected by the parent. H. striata reared in isolation produce young; at present it is not known whether they reproduce by parthenogenesis or by self‐fertilization. The probable phylogenetic development of parental care patterns in the Hirudinea is reviewed.

The Golden Gate Leech Helobdella californica (Hirudinea: Glossiphoniidae): Occurrence and DNA‐Based Taxonomy of a Species Restricted to San Francisco

“…Hence, the neighbour joining analysis (Fig. 6) confirms the earlier morphology-based suggestion that the "Golden Gate leech" is a separate species and not a colour variant of the widely distributed H. stagnalis (KUTSCHERA, 1988;1989). …”

“…In addition, several specimens of the duck leech (Theromyzon tessulatum) were observed on the underside of flat stones. This parasite was found before in these aquatic habitats of the Park (MASON et al, 2005 (KUTSCHERA, 1992;SHANKLAND et al, 1992). In none of these aquatic habitats outside of San Francisco a single individual of H. californica was discovered.…”

“…), water snails (Physa gyrina), and oligochaetes (Tubifex sp.) (KUTSCHERA, 1989). In the habitats of H. californica investigated systematically between 2007 and 2010 (Gunnera Creek/Bot.…”

“…In the original species description and the associated paper on the reproductive behaviour of H. californica only a brief account of the morphology of this leech was provided (KUTSCHERA, 1988;1989). Based on specimens collected in 2008 and 2009, more detailed morphological data are summarized here.…”

“…population from the Golden Gate Park was described as a new species, Helobdella californica (KUTSCHERA, 1988). In a subsequent publication, the reproductive behaviour and parental care patterns of H. californica were documented (KUTSCHERA, 1989). As in other members of the genus Helobdella, breeding H. californica feed their young attached to the belly of the parent with captured prey organisms .…”