![Sample our Earth Sciences journals, sign in here to start your access, latest two full volumes FREE to you for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5930/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Earth-Sciences.jpg"})
Abstract
The marine leech fauna of New Zealand is poorly known and based primarily on studies by Richardson in the 1950s. Three new species have recently been discovered. Dollfusobdella kaikourae n. gen., n. sp. is described from Kaikoura, New Zealand parasitising pectoral fins of Scorpaena cardinalis, and thornfish, Bovichtus variegatus. It is characterised by a cylindrical body widest at the posterior portion of the urosome and tapering gradually to the oral sucker; the total length is not known to exceed 10 mm. The urosome segments are 3‐annulate, each with large tubercles dorsally and smaller tubercles ventrally, but lacking pulsatile vesicles. The reproductive system has five pairs of testisacs and a small bursa. Leporinabdella digglesi n. gen., n. sp. is described from Manukau Harbour, Auckland, from the body and mouth of yellowbelly flounder, Rhombosolea leporina. It is characterised by a wide, flat body not known to exceed 10 mm total length and a large caudal sucker. Urosome segments are 3‐annulate with lateral conical tubercles on each annulus, but lacking pulsatile vesicles. The reproductive system has five pairs of testisacs and a large bursa. Pontobdella novaezaelandiae n. sp. is described from a single specimen collected near Wellington. It is characterised by a large oral sucker without a fringe and lacking papillae, a moderate‐size caudal sucker, and four annuli per segment with large tubercles on the first three annuli.