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Issue: Vol. 2834 No. 1: 27 Apr. 2011
Type: Articles
Published: 2011-04-27
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.2834.1.6
Page range: 65–68
Abstract views: 45
PDF downloaded: 2

Molecular Characterization of Helobdella modesta (Verrill, 1872) (Hirudinida: Glossiphoniidae) from its type locality, West River and Whitneyville Lake, New Haven County, Connecticut, USA

Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Invertebrate Zoology, Museum Support Center MRC 534, 4210 Silver Hill Road, Suitland, MD 20746, USA
Department of Biological Sciences, Quinnipiac University, 275 Mt. Carmel Avenue, Hamden, Connecticut 06518, USA
Department of Biological Sciences, Quinnipiac University, 275 Mt. Carmel Avenue, Hamden, Connecticut 06518, USA
Annelida Hirudinida Glossiphoniidae

Abstract

Clepsine modesta was described by Verrill (1872) based on specimens collected in the West River and Whitneyville Lake, New Haven County, Connecticut, USA. Consistent with Article 73.2.3 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (Anonymous 1999), the Syntype specimens of C. modesta originated from two localities and thus the type locality encompasses all of the places of origin. Moore (1898) synonomized C. modesta with the European Helobdella stagnalis (Linnaeus 1758) based on similarities in morphology. Subsequently, all North American leeches with a nuchal scute were considered as H. stagnalis with the exception of Helobdella californica Kutschera 1988, known only from Stow Lake, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California, USA. In addition to Europe and North America, Helobdella stagnalis has been reported from South America, Africa, and Asia (Sawyer 1986).

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