A CHECK-LIST OF LEECHES OF INDIA

In the Fauna of British India-Hirudinea, Harding and Moore (1927) have recorded 38 species and 6 subspecies of leeches from. the present geographical limits of India (excluding Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Burma). Since then, 16 more species have been added to the Indian leech fauna by Bhatia (1930, 1934 and 1939), Chelladurai (1934), Sanjeeva Raj (1951 and 1974) and Baugh (1960); and the distribution of a number of species have been extended to various parts of the country by them. The two species, viz., Glossiphonia complanata Linnaeus and Glossiphonia weberi Blanchard are reduced to subspecific level by Soos (1969). Recently Soota (1956), Chandra (1966, 1976a, b, c and 1977) and J ulka and Ghosh (1976) have considerably increas~d the distributional records of a number of species from Kashmir Valley; Maharashtra; Rajasthan; Himachal Pradesh and Chhota Nagpur (Bihar) and Indian Coasts. The present check-list deals with 52 species and 8 subspecies so far known from the Indian region. The species are arranged in the systematic order. The original and the latest references along with important synonyms have been mentioned under each species. The type-locality and type-depository has also been given. The distribution of each species in India as well as outside India has been mentioned. The works of Harding & Moore (1927), and Soos (1966, 1967a, 1967b, 1967c, 1969) have been followed for the preparation of keys for identification.


INTRODUCTION
In the Fauna of British India-Hirudinea, Harding and Moore (1927) have recorded 38 species and 6 subspecies of leeches from.the present geographical limits of India (excluding Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Burma).Since then, 16 more species have been added to the Indian leech fauna by Bhatia (1930Bhatia ( , 1934Bhatia ( and 1939)), Chelladurai (1934), Sanjeeva Raj (1951and 1974) and Baugh (1960); and the distribution of a number of species have been extended to various parts of the country by them.The two species, viz., Glossiphonia complanata Body divided into two distinct l&teral fin-like processes absent, present.
G. Posterior region with less than eleven pairs of branchiae.
Posterior region with eleven or more than eleven pairs of branchiae.
Male gonopore between rings 26 and 27; total number of rings 71.

Crop with seven pairs of lateral divertioula. • ••
Crop with more than seven pairs of lateral diverticula.
'1. Eyes on rings S, 4 and 7; lnale gonopore between rings 29 and 30., First two pairs of eyes on ring 2, third pair on ring 5; male gonopore between rings 27 and 28.

Eyes one pair.
Eyes more than one pair.9. Dorsal scute between ring 12 and 13 present: eyes on ring 8 ; male gonopore between rings 24 and 25.
• "Glossip71Onia c01nplanataco~nplanaa Firs t and second pairs of eyes on ring four, third pair on ring five.
First, second and third of eyes on ring 3, 4 and 5.
First, second and third pair of eyes on ring 5, 7 and 8.
First, second and third pair of eyes on ring 6, 7 and 8.
13. Head separated from body by necklike constriction ; Gonopores separated by two rings; eye two pairs.
Head not separated from body by necklike constriction ; gonop~re.3separated by one and balf ring; eyes three pairs.
14. First pair of eye between ring 2 and 3' and second pair on ring 5.
First pair of eye on ring 2 and second pair on ring 3.
First pair of eye on ring 4 and second pair on ring 5.
15. Three pair of eyes; cephalic region not dialated.

i.
No accessory post-cephalic eyes.
5. First pair of eyes on somite three; gonopores separated by two to three rings. ... Vaginal stalk well-developed.9. Gonopores separated by seven annuli.
Gonopores separated by five annuli.
10. Vaginal stalk about equal in length to caecum.
Vaginal stalk about twice the length of caecum.
Habitat: Marine form, parasitic on turtles.
Distribution: India: Bay of Bengal at Ennore (Tamil Nadu).Outside India: Japan and South America.
Habitat: Marine form ; parasitic on fishes.
Habitat: Parasitic on fishes.
No dorsal canal from stomaoh to exterior.
ERPOBDELLIDAEEyes forming always a regular arch on contiguous somite,:;.22. Third and fourth pair of eyes on-contiguous annuli; terrestrial forms.HAEMADIPSIDAE Third and fourth pair of eyes separated by an annulus; aquatic, HIRUDWAE EYE TO THE INDIAN SPECIES OF FAl\IILY FRPOBDELLIDAE 1.Dorlial canal from stomach to exterior present.