Sinospelaeobdella is a genus of jawed land leech, endemic to caves in China.[1] It contains the species S. cavatuses (previously Haemadipsa cavatuses) and S. wulingensis, the latter being named after the Wuling Mountains where it was found.

Sinospelaeobdella
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Annelida
Clade: Pleistoannelida
Clade: Sedentaria
Class: Clitellata
Subclass: Hirudinea
Order: Arhynchobdellida
Family: Haemadipsidae
Genus: Sinospelaeobdella
Huang, 2019

The diet of this genus is unique among the land leeches, as it exclusively feeds off blood of cave dwelling bats. Its central diet is based on Rhinolophus sinicus, R. pearsonii, R. pusillus, R. macrotis, and Hipposideros armiger.[1]

References edit

  1. ^ a b Huang, Taifu; Liu, Zhiwei; Gong, Xiaoyan; Wu, Tao; Liu, Hui; Deng, Jiaxin; Zhang, Youxiang; Peng, Qingzhong; Zhang, Libiao; Liu, Zhixiao (2019-02-25). "Vampire in the darkness: a new genus and species of land leech exclusively bloodsucking cave-dwelling bats from China (Hirudinda: Arhynchobdellida: Haemadipsidae)". Zootaxa. 4560 (2): zootaxa.4560.2.2. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4560.2.2. ISSN 1175-5334. PMID 31716579.