April, 1908. Lakes Amatitlax and Atitla.n — Meek. 199 



THE LEECHES OF LAKE AMATITLAN. 

 By J. PERCY MOORE.* 



Family <irlof»Ni|>lioiiiidte. Snail Leeches. 



Qlossophonia lineata (Verrill). 



This little leech was originally described from Nebraska and 

 Florida. It is now known to range very extensively over the 

 Pacific side of South America, through Central America, Mexico, 

 the entire United States, and into the southern half of Canada, 

 and is carried from place to place attached to the feet of migrating 

 water birds. Several specimens were taken, in association 

 with E. triannulariSy under stones in Lake Amatitlan. 



Although presenting many varieties, a general characteristic 

 of the species is the double line of small conical papilla along the 

 middle of the back. The striking color pattern of brown and 

 white in vivid contrast is also limited to this and one other species 

 of the genus. 



Besides seeking concealment beneath stones and leaves in the 

 water, it attaches itself to the bodies of snails, frogs and larger 

 leeches, upon the first of which, as well as upon small worms and 

 insects, it subsists. In common with other members of the 

 genus it bears its eggs and young on the ventral surface, pro- 

 tected by the inrolled margins, and supplied with currents of fresh 

 water by the rythmic undulations of the body. When disturbed, 

 it rolls into a ball and remains for a time quiescent. 



Family Erpobilellidae. Worm Leeches. 



Erpobdella triannulata Sp. nov. 



Form moderately slender, width greatest at caudal end of 

 clitellum, thence nearly uniform, but tapering gently to caudal 

 end; subterete in pre-clitellar region, moderately depressed, and 



♦Two species of Leeches were found in Lake Amatitlan, but none was 

 was taken in Lake Atitlan. as no special search was made for them there. 

 These leeches are small, and one, or both, species is quite abundant under 

 stones. The small size of these animals, and the fact that they are hidden, 

 render them of little if any economic importance. The account here given 

 of these leeches was prepared for this paper by Dr. J. Percy Moore, of the 

 University of Pennsylvania. — [S. E. M.] 



