Diversity, distribution and host interactions of branchiobdellidans (Clitellata: Branchiobdellida) in the Western Balkans

Shrestkha, Mariia (author), Utevsky, Serge Y. (author), Trontelj, Peter (author)

Branchiobdellidan samples obtained from host crustaceans from 60 localities in the Balkan region (Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Serbia) were studied based on collections of the University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Biology (Slovenia) and new sampling. The crayfish worms were assigned to seven species: Branchiobdella balcanica, B. pentadonta, B. italica, B. parasita, B. hexadonta, B. astaci and Xironogiton victoriensis. Species-specific microlocations of the different branchiobdellidan species and their cocoons on the crayfish body are described. The wider type locality of the endemic subspecies Branchiobdella balcanica sketi was re-surveyed, and fresh samples were obtained. Based on morphological analysis of these samples, we formally reject the subspecies status of B. balcanica sketi.

• Language: English
• Keywords: Branchiobdellida, crayfish, distribution, symbiotic interactions, B. balcanica sketi, Western Balkan
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2025
• Number of pages: Str. 3-17
• Numbering: Vol. 27, no. 2
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-180711
• UDC: 595.3
• ISSN on article: 1854-3081
• DOI: 10.14720/ns.21626
• COBISS.SI-ID: 275853059
• Publication date in RUL: 08.04.2026

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Natura Sloveniae : revija za terensko biologijo = journal of field biology
• Publisher: Založba Univerze v Ljubljani = University of Ljubljana Press, Biotehniška fakulteta Univerze v Ljubljani = Biotechnical Faculty at University of Ljubljana, Nacionalni inštitut za biologijo = National Institute of Biology
• ISSN: 1854-3081
• COBISS.SI-ID: 221920000

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Title: Diverziteta, razširjenost in gostitelji branhiobdelidov (Clitellata: Branchiobdellida) na zahodnem Balkanu

Abstract

Članek obravnava vzorce branhiobdelidov ali račjih pijavčic z gostiteljskih rakov deseteronožcev, nabrane na 60 lokalitetah na območju zahodnega Balkana (Slovenija, Hrvaška, Bosna in Hercegovina, Črna gora, Makedonija, Srbija in Bolgarija). Vzorci so bili pridobljeni iz zoološke zbirke Oddelka za biologijo Biotehniške fakultete Univerze v Ljubljani ter z nedavnim terenskim delom. Ugotovljenih je bilo sedem vrst branhiobdelidov: Branchiobdella balcanica, B. pentadonta, B. italica, B. parasita, B. hexadonta, B. astaci in tujerodna Xironogiton victoriensis. Opisana so vrstno specifična mesta pričvrščanja odraslih branhiobdelidov in njihovih kokonov na telesu gostiteljev. Podrobno je bilo pregledano širše območje tipske lokalitete endemičnega taksona Branchiobdella balcanica sketi. Morfološka analiza novih vzorcev je razkrila, da razlikovalni znaki niso zanesljivi, zaradi česar je predlagana formalna ukinitev statusa samostojne podvrste za B. balcanica sketi.

• Keywords: Branchiobdellida, potočni raki, razširjenost, simbiotske interakcije, B. balcanica sketi, zahodni Balkan