title: A new leech species (Hirudinida: Erpobdellidae: Erpobdella) from a cave in the West Azerbaijan province of Iran.
abstract: Erpobdella borisi n. sp. is a predatory leech inhabiting cave waters in Iran. Probably, it is either a troglobiont or troglophile. The leech has no eyes, and the complete mid-body somite is divided unequally into five annuli. Results of phylogenetic analysis based on morphological characters and COI gene sequence indicate the species to be closely related to Erpobdella japonica, E. octoculata and E. testacea.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Oczapowskiego St. 5, 10-718 Olsztyn.; Email: joanna.cichocka@uwm.edu.pl.
authors.forename: Joanna M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Cichocka
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Oczapowskiego St. 5, 10-718 Olsztyn.; Email: alekb@uwm.edu.pl.
authors.forename: Aleksander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bielecki
authors.affiliation: Empty Spaces Research, Miłosza St. 14b, 83-000 Pruszcz Gdański.; Email: jarek.kur@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jarosław
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kur
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Oczapowskiego St. 5, 10-718 Olsztyn.; Email: dorota.pikula@uwm.edu.pl.
authors.forename: Dorota
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pikuła
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza St. 59, 80-308 Gdańsk.; Email: adrianna.kilikowska@biol.ug.edu.pl.
authors.forename: Adrianna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kilikowska
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, The University of Winnipeg, 515 Portage Ave., Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, R3B 2E9.; Email: b.biernacka@uwinnipeg.ca.
authors.forename: Beata
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Biernacka
mesh_terms: D063147:Animal Distribution; D000825:Animal Structures / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development; D000818:Animals; D049628:Body Size; D017753:Ecosystem; D005260:Female; D007492:Iran; D007865:Leeches / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009929:Organ Size; D010802:Phylogeny