Phylogeny of the leech family Glossiphoniidae based on mitochondrial gene sequences and morphological data

The phylogenetic relationships of the Glossiphoniidae (Rhynchobdellida) wer e investigated using morphological characters and the mitochondrial genes c ytochrome c oxidase subunit I and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide dehydro genase subunit 1. Thirty-five taxa representing 10 of the 23 currently reco gnized glossiphoniid genera were sampled, including more than 70% of known North American species, as well as others from Europe, South America, Afric a, and a species endemic to Lake Baikal. Outgroup taxa included species fro m the Piscicolidae and Ozobranchidae. Cladistic analysis resulted in 1 most -parsimonious tree. Subfamily distinctions, i.e., Haementeriinae, Theromyzi nae, and Glossiphoniinae, that have been based on eye morphology and reprod uctive biology are not corroborated. Results also provide insights into sev eral problematic genus-level classifications. For example, relationships of Placobdella and Haementeria are clarified and elimination of Desserobdella may be necessary. Bloodfeeding from vertebrates is seen to be a primitive characteristic that has been lost twice within the clade. The hypothesis th at the biannulate leech, Oligobdella biannulata, represents an important tr ansitional form is re-evaluated in a phylogenetic context.