Egg-feeding in the freshwater piscicolid leech Cystobranchus virginicus (Annelida, Hirudinea)

摘要: . Leeches are common terrestrial and aquatic annelids, parasitizing or feeding on a wide range of host taxa. Here we report evidence for an unusual behavior egg-feeding in the piscicolid leech Cystobranchus virginicus. We identified distended specimens C. virginicus nests at least 4 different fish species: Campostoma anomalum, Moxostoma carinatum, sp. (either M. anisurum and/or breviceps), Nocomis leptocephalus. collected total 41 leeches from these species documented 1 19 55 (35%), with many sites containing multiple leeches. Individuals were not any adult spp. 635 leptocephalus examined, never found absence active spawning (26 sites). These results consistent individuals being opportunistic possibly even obligate egg-feeder, potentially timing their own reproductive activities hosts. The current distribution has been expanded to include North Carolina, South Tennessee. potential induce mortality developing eggs could be concern conservation merits further investigation.