A redescription of the Australian leech Placobdelloides bancrofti with new records of its distribution

Abstract

Placobdelloides bancrofti (Best, 1931) Sawyer, 1986 (Euhirudinea: Glossiphoniidae) is recorded for the first time from a location in North Queensland, Australia. Placobdelloides bancrofti was found feeding on the freshwater turtle Emydura krefftii and was collected from a new host species Elseya latisternum. Examination of live individuals enabled us to document external coloration and markings for the first time. Clarification of the original description of P. bancrofti is made, correcting the location of the anal pore, and then the taxonomic history of this species is discussed.