Ozobranchus branchiatus
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| Ozobranchus branchiatus | |
|---|---|
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| Ozobranchus branchiatus | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Annelida |
| Clade: | Pleistoannelida |
| Clade: | Sedentaria |
| Class: | Clitellata |
| Subclass: | Hirudinea |
| Order: | Rhynchobdellida |
| Family: | Ozobranchidae |
| Genus: | Ozobranchus |
| Species: | O. branchiatus |
| Binomial name | |
| Ozobranchus branchiatus (Menzies, 1791)[1] | |
| Synonyms | |
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Ozobranchus branchiatus is a species of leech in the family Ozobranchidae. It is found in the Atlantic Ocean and is a permanent parasite of sea turtles, mostly the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas).
This leech is somewhat dorso-ventrally flattened and is about 13 mm (0.5 in) in length. The anterior (head) end is narrow and is armed with a sucker with which the leech holds onto the turtle host. This end also bears a mouth on the underside near the sucker and a pair of eyes on the fifth annulation. The trunk is much broader than the head and bears seven pairs of digitate gills. It terminates with a sucker, the diameter of which is as broad as the maximum width of the body. This leech is a creamy colour.[2]