Leech Collections from Washington State, with the Description of Two New Species of<i>Placobdella</i>(Annelida: Glossiphoniidae)

Abstract

An assessment of the hirudinifauna of Washington State is presented. In total, 11 distinct leech species were found representing two new records for the state and two new species of the genus Placobdella, both described herein. Placobdella kwetlumye, n. sp., and Placobdella sophieae, n. sp., both collected in Squires Lake, Whatcom County, are morphologically similar to P. burresonae and P. pediculata respectively, but exhibit morphological features that readily separate them from congeners. In addition to the descriptions of the new species, here we provide a brief summary of the morphological traits possessed by each species found.