First Reports of Leech Parasitism in Malagasy Anurans

Abstract Seven isolated cases of haemadipsid leech parasitism in anuran amphibians living in the rainforests of eastern Madagascar are described. Boophis madagascariensis, Boophis roseipalmatus, Gephyromantis luteus, and Mantidactylus sp. aff. grandidieri were found to be new host records for Malagabdella species, and this study represents the first description of amphibian–leech interactions in Madagascar, the second report of leeches as ectoparasites of Malagasy vertebrates, and the fourth reference of haemadipsid as amphibian parasites.