ANNiKEY Linear - diagnoses, descriptions, and a single-access identification key to Annelida family-level taxa
Research article published in Zookeys (2025)
Abstract
Phylum Annelida are ubiquitous metazoans found in almost every terrestrial and aquatic habitat on Earth. Historically, taxonomic studies on the phylum have been focused largely on its majorgroups, polychaetes, oligochaetes and leeches, so that while family-level keys for each group are available, no single-source identification guide exists to the world's annelid families. Here, the first illustrated linear key to annelid families is provided and family-level descriptions and diagnoses that distinguish individuals of each family from those of other families in the phylum are updated. This information is generated from an annelid DELTA database of 334 characters and 166 mostly family-level taxa. A link is provided to downloadable software (ANNiKEY Interactive) allowing the same data to be interrogated using the open-source DELTA program Intkey, which enables both interactive identification and taxonomic query functionality. For each family-level taxon, a diagnosis, full description, links to taxonomic data at the World Register of Marine Species, illustrations of diagnostic features, and a summary of the recent literature, including a list of published keys to genera and species are provided.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Summary
Phylum Annelida are ubiquitous metazoans found in almost every terrestrial and aquatic habitat on Earth.
Why This Matters for Hirudotherapy
This article presents ANNiKEY, the first illustrated linear identification key and diagnostic database for family-level taxa within the phylum Annelida, which historically includes leeches as a major group. The authors compiled extensive morphological and descriptive data from 334 characters across 166 mostly family-level taxa to create a single-source identification guide. While this tool contributes to the broader taxonomic classification and study of annelids, it holds only indirect relevance to the American Society of Hirudotherapy. The resource is strictly taxonomic and descriptive, providing no information regarding the therapeutic properties, medical applications, or anticoagulant secretomes of medicinal leeches.
Citation
ANNiKEY Linear - diagnoses, descriptions, and a single-access identification key to Annelida family-level taxa.
Glasby CJ et al. · Zookeys, 2025
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