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Issue: Vol. 5831 No. 3: 16 Jun. 2026
Type: Article
Published: 2026-06-16
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5831.3.7
Page range: 427-436
Abstract views: 63
PDF downloaded: 4

New geographic and host records of Chtonobdella catenifera (Moore, 1938) (Hirudinea, Hirudiniformes, Haemadipsidae) parasitizing Heosemys spinosa (Gray, 1831) and Manouria emys Schlegel & Müller, 1840 (Testudines) from West Sumatra, Indonesia

Systematic Zoology Laboratory; Graduate School of Biological Science; Department of Sciences; Tokyo Metropolitan University; Tokyo; 192-0397; Japan; SINTAS Indonesia Foundation; Bogor; West Java; Indonesia
SINTAS Indonesia Foundation; Bogor; West Java; Indonesia
SINTAS Indonesia Foundation; Bogor; West Java; Indonesia
Department of Zoology; Graduate School of Science; Kyoto University; Sakyo-ku; Kyoto 606-8502; Japan
Systematic Zoology Laboratory; Graduate School of Biological Science; Department of Sciences; Tokyo Metropolitan University; Tokyo; 192-0397; Japan
Annelida Behavior ectoparasite spiny hill terrapin Sumatra terrestrial leech

Abstract

This study reports the first record of the rare terrestrial leech Chtonobdella catenifera (Moore, 1938) in the Barisan Nature Reserve, Sumatra, Indonesia, where 12 specimens were found attached to their vertebrate host: the Spiny Hill Terrapin Heosemys spinosa (Gray, 1831) and the Sundaic Giant Tortoise Manouria emys Schlegel & Müller, 1840 belonging to the families Geoemydidae and Testudinidae, respectively. These findings represent the first confirmed cases of haematophagy of C. catenifera on the spiny hill terrapin. The leech mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene sequences of specimens from Indonesia form a monophyletic group with Chtonobdella meyeri (K2P distance of 10.6%), and showed low intraspecific variation of about 0.010 (1%). This discovery highlights the underexplored diversity and host associations of terrestrial leeches in Southeast Asia and contributes to a better understanding of host-parasite interactions involving superfamily Testudinoidea which have high conservation priorities in Indonesia.

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How to Cite

Irawan, A.D., Wibisono, H.T., Juanes, A.M., Nakano, T. & Eguchi, K. (2026) New geographic and host records of Chtonobdella catenifera (Moore, 1938) (Hirudinea, Hirudiniformes, Haemadipsidae) parasitizing Heosemys spinosa (Gray, 1831) and Manouria emys Schlegel & Müller, 1840 (Testudines) from West Sumatra, Indonesia. Zootaxa, 5831 (3), 427–436. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5831.3.7