Genetic variation, pseudocryptic diversity, and phylogeny of Erpobdella (Annelida: Hirudinida: Erpobdelliformes), with emphasis on Canadian species
Research article published in Mol Phylogenet Evol (2019)
Abstract
Leeches of the family Erpobdellidae are important members of benthic freshwater environments, where they are voracious predators of other invertebrates and an important source of nutrition for several species of vertebrates. Beset by a lack of reliable diagnostic morphological characters and destructive identification processes, molecular approaches have, in recent years, been employed to illuminate the relationships within this family, and DNA barcoding has been employed for identification purposes. However, an understanding of the levels of genetic variation across the geographic distributions of members of the genus is still lacking. Herein, we sequence the mitochondrial COI locus for 249 newly collected North American individuals, representing 5 species, as well as mitochondrial 12S rDNA, nuclear 18S rDNA, and nuclear 28S rDNA for a select subset of these. Our COI dataset was leveraged to detect potential cryptic species, and to calculate genetic distances as a proxy for the degree of gene flow between populations. Augmented by numerous sequences from GenBank, the multilocus dataset was used to reconstruct a phylogenetic hypothesis for worldwide members of the genus. Beyond corroborating previous overarching phylogenetic frameworks, our results show that an undescribed species that is morphologically and genetically similar to Erpobdella punctata exists in sympatry with this species - the new species has likely been overlooked in previous studies due to its morphological similarity with Erpobdella punctata. Erpobdella bucera is reported from Canada for the first time; and Erpobdella microstoma is newly reported from Saskatchewan and placed in a phylogeny for the first time. Finally, we find evidence for genetic structure in both E. cf. punctata and Erpobdella obscura that is correlated with major river drainage basin boundaries in North America.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Resumen
Leeches of the family Erpobdellidae are important members of benthic freshwater environments, where they are voracious predators of other invertebrates and an important source of nutrition for several species of vertebrates.
Por qué esto importa para la hirudoterapia
This study sequenced mitochondrial COI, 12S rDNA, 18S rDNA, and 28S rDNA loci from 249 North American Erpobdella leeches to examine genetic variation, cryptic diversity, and phylogeny within the genus. The authors identified a potentially undescribed species morphologically similar to Erpobdella punctata, reported Erpobdella bucera from Canada for the first time, and found genetic structure correlated with river drainage basin boundaries. While this work concerns leeches (Annelida: Hirudinida), its relevance to hirudotherapy or the leech secretome is negligible: Erpobdella species are predatory freshwater leeches that feed on other invertebrates, not blood-feeding or medicinal leeches. The study is purely taxonomic and phylogeographic, with no investigation of anticoagulants, salivary secretions, or any therapeutic properties. The connection to ASH's domain is limited to shared class-level taxonomy.
Citación
Genetic variation, pseudocryptic diversity, and phylogeny of Erpobdella (Annelida: Hirudinida: Erpobdelliformes), with emphasis on Canadian species.
Anderson K et al. · Mol Phylogenet Evol, 2019
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Añadido a la biblioteca ASH: May 27, 2026 · Última actualización del sitio: June 18, 2026