Parasitism of the Two-toed Amphiuma (Amphiuma means Garden) by the Macrobdellid Leech Macrobdella ditetra Moore
Benjamin S. Stegenga1, Alec Jarboe2, Dirk J. Stevenson3,*, and Elizabeth Borda4
1The Orianne Society, Tiger, GA 30576. 2452 Young Way, Richmond Hill, GA 31324. 3Altamaha Environmental Consulting, Hinesville, GA 31313. 4Texas A&M University San Antonio, One University Way, Department of Science and Math, San Antonio, TX 78224.*Corresponding author.
Southeastern Naturalist,Volume 20, Issue 1 (2021): N1–N6
Abstract
During the course of surveys for freshwater amphibians/reptiles in the Coastal Plain of southeastern Georgia and northern Florida, we documented parasitism of the Amphiuma means (Two-toed Amphiuma) by the leech Macrobdella ditetra (Family Macrobdellidae). We observed this leech on Two-toed Amphiumas at 4 different wetland sites, with 1–3 individual M. ditetra present on 6 of 16 (37.5%) Two-toed Amphiumas captured via aquatic trapping. Leeches were not found on Siren lacertina (Greater Siren; n = 10), a second large, eel-like salamander inhabiting some of the same wetlands. We did not document Philobdella floridana, a second macrobdellid leech species often found syntopically with M. ditetra, feeding on the Two-toed Amphiuma.
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