Szekessy Vilmos (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 55. (Budapest 1963)
Soós, Á.: New leeches (Hirudinea) from the fauna of Hungary
291 ÉHIK), Maroshévíz: hot spring (13 spec., 11 Aug., 1942, leg. ÉHIK), Korond (1 spec., 18 June, 1943, leg. Mrs. FEJÉRVÁRY et WAGNER), Málnást'ürdő: Olt (1 spec.), Tusnádfürdő : sulphur spring (1 spec., 24 July, 1942, leg. KOLOSVÁRY), Csiki Range: Tatáros brook (2 spec., 23 July, 1943, leg. SZENT-IVÁNY), Csíkszentdomokos: Hivák brook (3 spec., 15 July, 1943, leg. ALLODIATORIS et Soós), Balánbánya: brook (1 spec., l(i Aug., 1943, leg. KESSELYÁK), Szalárd: hot spring (1 spec., July, 1943, leg. ÉHIK et LOKSA). Haeinenteria costata FR. MÜLLER, 1846 Despite the fact that we are well informed on the external morphology and the anatomical structure of the species from the works of, primarily, KOWALEWSKI, MANNSFELD (9), and HECHT (3), its ecology and mainly its zoogeographical range is still obscure in many respects. Although the 20—70 mm long, variously colored species is easily recognizable by reason of its single pair of eyes, the black longitudinal stripe extending along the median line of the dorsal side, and the genital openings separated by two annuli, it was still frequently confused, mainly in the last century, with the species Hemiclepsis marginata O. F. MÜLL ., — hence earlier data concerning its range must be considered with some prudence and due criticism. As far as we know, the species occurs primarily in clear, standing or only slowly streaming bodies of water richly overgrown with plants, e.g., in ponds, marshes, springs, and their outlets, draining ditches, etc. Its host is the pond tortoise (Emys orbicularis L.) According to unverified data, this leech sucks also the blood of birds. On the other hand, we have a number of positive data on its sucking also human blood. Of course, since the animal is small and its proboscis relatively weak, it is not really dangerous for man. As KOWALEWSKI writes, it tends to adhere to the skin among the toes, where the skin is rather thin and the proboscis of the animal can pierce it. In Russia before World War I, one had frequently found it when fishermen waded into the water without protective rubber boots. HECHT (3, p. 143) published similar observations from Germany. The first specimens in Hungary had been collected by I. SZABÓ , from the pond turtle, in Orgovány, 2—3 Sept., 1958. Not less than 12 specimens were found on turtles living in the ditches draining the reedy marshes around Orgovány. On 21 October, 1959. I succeeded to collect two further specimens' from a turtle caught in a fish-trap made of wicker. K. FARKAS gathered 4 specimens from another turtle capture in one of the drains of the peaty marsh Nagy-Berek near Balatonfenyves, 27 August, 1962. The majority of the specimens were deep brown of a greenish shade. The measurements of the conserved specimens are: 11x7, 14x8, 15x8, 17x5, 18x5, 21 x 6, 23 x 6, 24 x 6, 25 x 9, 27 x 9, 30 x 10, 32 x 10 mm. I placed five individuals (collected on 2—3 Sept. 1958) in a small aquarium overgrown with plants, partly to observe their reproduction, partly to receive data on the period of their survival without a fresh uptake of blood. The five animals were placed for a day on a pond turtle on three separate occasions to suck blood (27 Jan., 3 May, 27 Aug., 1959). They adhered with various grades of vehemence on the turtles, and, with one exception, all have left their hosts on the following morning; I had to separate the fifth from the turtle after 24 hours. By an examination under the binocular microscope, it could be established beyond doubt that all five specimens have fed on blood. The rate of feeding was different per individuals. The process was similar on the two other occasions, and bloodsucking could be observed also in these cases. In spite of their being constantly under observation during 1959, I failed to witness any copulation, nor could I find any cocoons or freshly hatched specimens. Owing to this failure, I decided to abandon any further observations as to reproduction, and only attempted to establish how long they could live without an uptake of blood. All five specimens pulled through the year 1960. True, they had hardly moved at all during this period; they usually rested motionless either on the bottom or the walls of the aquarium with a thin crust of algal layer. They stirred only when I substituted fresh tapwater for the evaporated water of the aquarium, about every two weeks. At such times, nearly every individual moved around a bit. The first animal perished on 17 January, 1961. Therefore this specimen lived 16 and a half months without 19*
