Chtonobdella fallax

Chtonobdella fallax
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Annelida
Clade: Pleistoannelida
Clade: Sedentaria
Class: Clitellata
Subclass: Hirudinea
Order: Arhynchobdellida
Family: Haemadipsidae
Genus: Chtonobdella
Species:
C. fallax
Binomial name
Chtonobdella fallax
(Blanchard, 1917)
Synonyms
  • Haemadipsa fallax Blanchard, 1917
  • Malagabdella fallax (Blanchard, 1917)

Chtonobdella fallax is a species of leeches belonging to the family Haemadipsidae;[1] also known by its synonym Malagabdella fallax (Blanchard, 1917) and having originally been placed in the related jawed land leech genus Haemadipsa by Raphaël Blanchard in 1917.[2] It is a relatively common species in the tropical forests of Madagascar.[3]

C. fallax is notable in that (before final identification) video evidence was provided by Mai Fahmy and Michael Tessler[3] of this species gathering energy and springing off a leaf, resolving a long-standing debate about whether or not leeches could jump.

References

  1. ^ "Chtonobdella fallax". Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  2. ^ Blanchard R (2017) Monographie des hémadipsines (sangsues terrestres). Bulletin de la Societe de Pathologie Exotique 10: 640–675.
  3. ^ a b Fahmy, M; Tessler, M (2024). "A jumping terrestrial leech from Madagascar". Biotropica. 56 (4). Bibcode:2024Biotr..56E3340F. doi:10.1111/btp.13340.