title: Phylogeny of the leech family Glossiphoniidae based on mitochondrial gene sequences and morphological data.
abstract: The phylogenetic relationships of the Glossiphoniidae (Rhynchobdellida) were investigated using morphological characters and the mitochondrial genes cytochrome c oxidase subunit I and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide dehydrogenase subunit 1. Thirty-five taxa representing 10 of the 23 currently recognized glossiphoniid genera were sampled, including more than 70% of known North American species, as well as others from Europe, South America, Africa, and a species endemic to Lake Baikal. Outgroup taxa included species from the Piscicolidae and Ozobranchidae. Cladistic analysis resulted in 1 most-parsimonious tree. Subfamily distinctions, i.e., Haementeriinae, Theromyzinae, and Glossiphoniinae, that have been based on eye morphology and reproductive biology are not corroborated. Results also provide insights into several problematic genus-level classifications. For example, relationships of Placobdella and Haementeria are clarified and elimination of Desserobdella may be necessary. Bloodfeeding from vertebrates is seen to be a primitive characteristic that has been lost twice within the clade. The hypothesis that the biannulate leech, Oligobdella biannulata, represents an important transitional form is re-evaluated in a phylogenetic context.
authors.affiliation: Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 48109-1079, USA.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Light
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Siddall
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000737:chemistry*; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D007865:Leeches / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D010802:Phylogeny; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV