Extension of range of freshwater leech Barbronia weberi (Blanchard) (Arhynchobdellae: Erpobdellidae) from Pune, Maharashtra

1 Pages·1991·0.63 MB·

by  H V Ghate

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES 133
Edmunds, M. (1963): Berthelinia caribbea n. sp., a hivalved Lond. 36: 191-197.
&
gastropod from the West Atlantic. J. Linn. Soc. Lond. Keen, A.M. Smith, A. (1961): West American species of the
(Zool.)44: 731-739. bivalved gastropod genus Berthelinia. Proc. calif. Acad.
&
Ganapati, P.N. Sarma, A.L.N. (1968): Occurrence ofbivalve Sci. 30: 41-66.
gastropods (Mollusca)in Visakhapatnam shore. Curr. Sci Legendre, R. (1965): Presence dans Les eaux Littorales de
.
37: 689-690. MadagascarddeGastropodes Bivalves (opisthobranches -
&
Ganapati, P.N. Sarma, A.L.N. (1972): Bivalve gastropods of Tectibranches, Sacoglosses). Bull. Aca. Malgache, N.S.
theIndianSeas. Proc. Ind.Nat. Sci.Acad. 38-B: 240-250. 41: 89-91
Grahame, J. (1969): The biology of Berthelinia caribbea Ed- Morrison, J.P.E. (1961): Notes on the bivalved ‘Univalves’.
munds. Bull. Mar. Sci. 19: 868-879. Abstract of the American Malacolovical Union Annual
Kawaguti, S. & Baba, K. (1959): A preliminary note on a two- Reportsfor 1960: 18-20.
valved sacoglossan gastropod Tamanovalva Umaxn. gen., Prabiiakara Rao, K. (1965): Record of bivalve gastropodBer-
n. sp.,fromTamano,Japan.Biol.J. Okayama Univ.5: 177- thelinia Umax (Kawaguti and Baba 1959) from theIndian
184. Ocean. Nature 208: 404-405.
Kawaguti, S. & Yamasu, T. (1962):Juliajaponica found living Sarma, A.L.N. (1975): Three new species of the Bivalved
as a bivalve gastropod. Proc. Japan. Acad. 38: 284- 287. Gastropods Julia and Berthelinia found in eastern Indian
Kawaguti, S. 8c Yamasu, T. (1966): Feeding and Spawning Ocean. Jap. Jour. Malac. (Venus) 34: 11-25.
habits of a bivalved gastropod, Julia japonica. Biol. J. Warmke,G.L. (1966):Twospeciesofthebivalvegastropod,Ber-
Okayama Univ. 12 1-9. thelinia, found in Puerto Rico.Nautilus 79: 139- 141.
:
Kay, E.A. (1962): Julia exquisila Gould, a bivalved gastropod. Wisely, B. (1960): An outline ofthedevelopment ofthe bivalve
Pad/. Sci. 16: 434-435. gastropod, Midorigai australis Bum.J. Malac. Soc. Aust.
Kay,E.A. (1964): Anew species ofBerthelinia and itsassociated 6: 37-39.
sacoglossans in the Hawaiian Islands. Proc. rnalac. Soc.
35. EXTENSION OF RANGE OF A FRESHWATER LEECH BARBIiONIA WEBERI
(BLANCHARD) (ARHYNCHOBDELLAEiERPOBDELLIDAE) FROM PUNE, MAHARASHTRA
A handful of aquatic vegetation, mainly Marsilea Moore (1927).
,
collected from the marshy banks of the river Mutha, near This species has so far been reported only from the
Balgandharva Ranga Mandir in Pune, Maharashtra, dis- northern parts of India, viz. Jammu and Kashmir,
closed thepresenceofeight small leeches.Thesewerered Himachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh (Harding and
incolour and swam actively when placed in an aquarium. Moore 1927, Chandra 1983). In fact, no member of the
Detailed examination after preservation indicated that the family ErpobdellidaewasreportedfromMaharashtrauntil
species wasBarbronia weberi (Blanchard), as per the key fairly recently, when two species ofthegenusHerpobdel-
given by Chandra (1983). loidea were reported (Chandra 1976). This report there-
Diagnostic features: Slender, linear form; terete anterior fore considerably extends the range ofBarbronia weberi
end; flattishposterior end; small, round caudal sucker and I am grateful to Dr. Mahesh Chandra (Zoological
distinctclitellum.The specimens alsocomparedwell with Survey of India, High Altitude Zoology Field Station,
the full description given by Harding and Moore (1927). Solan) for examining the specimens and for reading the
One of the collected specimens, however, measured 49 First draft ofthis manuscript. Shigwan and Varushe, Field
mm. Harding and Moore mentioned the size "....to be 25 Collectors of the Botany Department, had First brought
to 35 mm, the largestbeing 36 mm...." Interestingly it was these animals to my notice and I am thankful to them for
the smaller specimen (30 mm) that showed a well- theirhelp.ThanksarealsoduetotheauthoritiesofModem
developedmalegenitalpore and theso-calledanterior and College for encouragement and facilities.
mm
posterior accessory copulatory pores. In the 49
specimen, the posterior pore was not well marked. Such
variations have also been mentioned by Harding and December 24, 1990 H.V GHATE
ReferENCES
Chandra, M. (1976): On a small collection of leeches from Surv. India 80: 265-290.
Maharashtra State, India. Rec. Zool. Surv. India 69: 325- Harding, W.A. & Moore,J.P. (1927): FaunaofBritish India,in-
328. cluding Ceylon and Burma: Hirudinea. Taylor and Fran-
Chandra, M. (1983): A checklist ofleeches ofIndia. Rec. Zool. cis, London.