A <em>Placobdella parasitica</em> in Harford Co., Maryland (5/20/2018). (Photo ID: 110403 - Psn: 22)

A Placobdella parasitica in Harford Co., Maryland (5/20/2018).

View Record Details Photo by Dave Webb MBP List

<em>Placobdella parasitica</em> in Queen Anne's Co., Maryland (6/13/2022). (c) sercfisheries, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>). (Photo ID: 592124 - Psn: 22)

Placobdella parasitica in Queen Anne's Co., Maryland (6/13/2022). (c) sercfisheries, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by Robert Aguilar, SERC MBP List

A <em>Placobdella parasitica</em> in Harford Co., Maryland (5/20/2018). Determined by Drs. Danielle de Carle and Michael Tessler. (Photo ID: 110404 - Psn: 25)

A Placobdella parasitica in Harford Co., Maryland (5/20/2018). Determined by Drs. Danielle de Carle and Michael Tessler.

View Record Details Photo by Dave Webb MBP List

<em>Placobdella parasitica</em> in Prince George's Co., Maryland (3/29/2021). (c) kentfothergill, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>) (Photo ID: 1464274 - Psn: 44)

Placobdella parasitica in Prince George's Co., Maryland (3/29/2021). (c) kentfothergill, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

View Record Details Photo by kentfothergill via iNaturalist MBP List

<em>Placobdella parasitica</em> in Prince George's Co., Maryland (4/10/2026). (c) Gina, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>) (Photo ID: 1484338 - Psn: 200)

Placobdella parasitica in Prince George's Co., Maryland (4/10/2026). (c) Gina, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

View Record Details Photo by Gina via iNaturalist MBP List

Map Snapshot

16 Records

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Relationships

Members of this genus are ectoparasites who primarily feed on turtles. They have been documented to opportunistically feed upon birds, fish, amphibians, other reptiles, and, even Homo sapiens.

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Citations

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Use of media featured on Maryland Biodiversity Project is only permitted with express permission of the photographer.

A Placobdella parasitica in Harford Co., Maryland (5/20/2018). View Record Details Media by Dave Webb.

Placobdella parasitica in Queen Anne's Co., Maryland (6/13/2022). (c) sercfisheries, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by Robert Aguilar, SERC.

A Placobdella parasitica in Harford Co., Maryland (5/20/2018). Determined by Drs. Danielle de Carle and Michael Tessler. View Record Details Media by Dave Webb.

Placobdella parasitica in Prince George's Co., Maryland (3/29/2021). (c) kentfothergill, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC) View Record Details Media by kentfothergill via iNaturalist.

Placobdella parasitica in Prince George's Co., Maryland (4/10/2026). (c) Gina, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC) View Record Details Media by Gina via iNaturalist.

Source: Wikipedia

Placobdella parasitica

Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Annelida
Clade:	Pleistoannelida
Clade:	Sedentaria
Class:	Clitellata
Subclass:	Hirudinea
Order:	Rhynchobdellida
Family:	Glossiphoniidae
Genus:	Placobdella
Species:	P. parasitica
Binomial name
*Placobdella parasitica* (Say, 1824)
Synonyms ^[1]
Hirudo parasitica Say, 1824

Placobdella parasitica is a species of leech found in North America.^[2] Leeches are habitual ectoparasites of vertebrates in aquatic environments. Placobdella parasitica is differentiated from other members of the genus Placobdella by its smooth dorsal surface, simple to complicated pigmentation, and abdomen with 8 to 12 stripes.^[1]

References

[edit]

^ ^a ^b William E. Moser; Dennis J. Richardson; Charlotte I. Hammond & Eric A. Lazo-Wasem (2013). "Redescription of Placobdella parasitica (Say, 1824) Moore, 1901 (Hirudinida: Glossiphoniidae)". Bulletin of the Peabody Museum of Natural History. 54 (2): 255–262. doi:10.3374/014.054.0203. S2CID 84944645.
^ Mark J. Wetzel; Frederic R. Govedich; William E. Moser & Donald J. Klemm (23 October 2020). "Classification and Checklist of the Leeches (Phylum Annelida: Class Clitellata: Subclass Hirudinida) occurring in North America north of Mexico". Illinois Natural History Survey. Retrieved 21 December 2020.