Leech (Annelida: Hirudinea) Infestations on Canadian Turtles, Including the First Canadian Record of Helobdella modesta from Freshwater Turtles

We collected leeches from freshwater turtles at two sites in southwestern Ontario. Five leech species ( Placobdella parasitica , P. ornata , Helobdella modesta , Erpobdella punctata and Alboglossiphonia heteroclita ) were collected from five turtle species ( Chrysemys picta , Chelydra serpentina , Clemmys guttata , Emydoidea blandingii and Sternotherus odoratus ). We report a new leech record ( P. ornata ) for C. guttata . The unexpectedly high frequency of H. modesta on freshwater turtles is discussed.