- Source: Pontobdella
Pontobdella is a species of marine leeches with a cosmopolitan distribution. They are covered with tubercles and their primary hosts are rays, sharks, skates, and sawfish.
Distribution
Pontobdella species are found on the coasts of Africa, Eurasia, the Americas, New Zealand, and even Antarctica.
Characteristics
A prominent feature of Pontobdella leeches are the "wart-like" tubercles which cover their bodies all over. Pontobdella's hosts are generally elasmobranchs – rays, sharks, skates, and sawfish. Each segment of the leech's body (and all leeches have 32) has three or four annuli.: 236 They are large leeches; one species, Pontobdella novaezealandiae, can grow as long as 20 centimetres.: 236
Classification
The genus was described by William Elford Leach. Pontobdella is placed in the family Piscicolidae, and is confirmed to form a monophyletic grouping.: 193
Species
The World Register of Marine Species lists the following species:
Pontobdella aculeata Harding, 1924
Pontobdella afra Baird, 1869
Pontobdella biannulata Moore, 1957
Pontobdella californiana Burreson & Passarelli, 2015
Pontobdella dispar Cordero, 1938
Pontobdella leucothela Schmarda, 1861
Pontobdella macrothela Schmarda, 1861
Pontobdella moorei Oka, 1910
Pontobdella muricata (Linnaeus, 1758)
Pontobdella novaezealandiae Burreson & Williams, 2008
Pontobdella oligothela Schmarda, 1861
Pontobdella prionodiscus Schmarda, 1861
Pontobdella variegata Baird, 1869
Pontobdella vosmaeri (Apáthy, 1888)