Until the beginning of the 21st century, the famous medicinal leech was thought to be represented by only one species, Hirudo medicinalis. However, recent publications have demonstrated that under that name, at least five different species of medicinal leeches were hidden. During the last decade, the biogeography of Western-Palaearctic leeches has begun to unravel, untangling their diversity in practically all of Europe, except for its westernmost peninsula, Iberia. Hirudo medicinalis has been repeatedly reported from Iberia, but those records were considered questionable. We discovered H. verbana in northern Spain, constituting its first record in Iberia. Using an integrative approach (combining morpho-anatomical data and molecular analyses using three genes, COI,12S rRNA, and ITS2), two endemic and geographically separated Iberian lineages have been found. One of them is easily distinguished by its distinctive colour-pattern and is described as H. verbana bilineata ssp. nov. We characterized the new subspecies morphologically, ecologically, and genetically. We also established its phylogenetic relationships with other European Hirudo spp. and confirm the presence of H. troctina in Iberia, occurring as far as 43° lat. N. Iberian H. verbana records constitute its westernmost known distribution to date. The provided distribution pattern of H. verbana contributes to a better understanding of the complexity of Iberia as a glacial refugium/cradle for endemisms, harbouring populations with a high degree of genetic structure that began to settle throughout the Pleistocene. Iberian Hirudo populations are declining in recent decades and there is an urgent need to assess their conservation status and to initiate conservation measures to reverse their decline.
The spionid genus Scolelepis is commonly divided into the subgenera Scolelepis (s. str.) and Parascolelepis. In the Black Sea, two species ascribed to the subgenus Parascolelepis have been reported so far – Scolelepis tridentata and Scolelepis cantabra. Both species are quite rare and when found are usually difficult to identify because of their fragility. To ascertain the identity of specimens from the Black Sea, the type-series of S. tridentata and non-type specimens of S. cantabra were examined. The examination of specimens from the Black Sea identified as Scolelepis tridentata revealed that they differ from the nominal species in several characters. Therefore, they are described herein as Scolelepis bellani n. sp., a species that most closely resembles S. korsuni from Arctic waters. Also, the occurrence of S. cantabra in the Black Sea is confirmed.http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:78FD82BA-084F-4213-A7A0-41C1EA6ACD44http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:FF4E2A3C-7607-4402-9F79-42399574CCC5
Abstract An isolated, but persistent population of the European medicinal leech Hirudo medicinalis Linnaeus, 1758 is reported from the “Mestecănișul de la Reci” Natural Reserve (ROSCI0111, Covasna County), representing the first confirmed record of this species in Romania. Information regarding habitat characteristics, main diagnostic features and protection status of the species is presented.
The marine eutrophication is one of the most severe problems which affect the seas and oceans worldwide. In the last three decades, as a consequence of the eutrophication and increased organic pollution, at the Romanian coast of the Black Sea major changes occurred in the benthic ecosystems in terms of reduction of biodiversity and modification of distribution of abundances and biomasses. Because the polychaetes are one of the most frequent and abundant components of the marine benthos, the state of their populations can be used to indicate the health of the entire marine environment.
The taxonomic, morphological, biological, behavioural and ecological characteristics of three species of spionid poly-chaetes from the Black Sea belonging to the Polydora-complex are summarised and discussed on the basis of the author′scollections along Romanian coasts as well as on material from other parts of the Black Sea. It is apparent that at least twospecies have been included under the name′Polydora ciliata′ in the Black Sea literature. All previous records of Polydorathat bore into calcareous substrates are most likely Polydora websteri. The individuals building muddy tubes on all typesof substrata at depths less than 20 m, previously identified as P. ciliata or P. limicola, are P. cornuta. The presence of trueP. ciliata in the Black Sea is questionable and older records must be re-evaluated. Dipolydora quadrilobata is a new recordfor the Romanian coast of the Black Sea, and has established dense populations in deeper (>30 m) soft bottom sediments.Descriptions and figures of these species, as well as a key to actual species of the Polydora-complex occurring in the Black Sea, are provided.
The present study presents the results of researches conducted in the 2001-2009 period regarding the hard substratum littoral biocoenosis from the Romanian Black Sea coast. On the basis of 280 quantitative samples collected between 0 and 16 m depth from 10 sampling stations (from Cap Midia to Vama Veche), the authors describe the qualitative and quantitative changes that took place in the rocky mussels biocoenosis.
There are many taxonomic problems in polychaete species names and solving confusing or inadequate taxonomic procedures is both time-demanding and extremely important. Our objective in this contribution was to analyse what is the current taxonomic situation for Nereis falsa de Quatrefages, 1866; it was based upon Nereis pulsatoria? Rathke, 1837 from the Black Sea, and it is currently regarded as having a very wide distribution. The species has been collected from different benthic substrates and even can be found on floating objects or marine turtles. Nereis falsa has been recorded from the Mediterranean Sea, the Eastern Atlantic along Africa, the Western Atlantic (Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, Brazil), and the Indian Ocean. However, despite the fact N. falsa was proposed as a species from the Black Sea, it has not yet been found there. How can we explain that a species is able to attain a very wide distribution and yet be missing from its type locality? After a careful study of previous publications and with our understanding of the systematics of nereidid polychaetes, we clarify the current situation by examining several related species and pointed out some nomenclatural issues. Our analysis indicates there is more than one species included under the same name, and in this contribution we propose some means to promote discussion and actions, and suggest some basic research for solving this issue.
