A general review of parasitic Annelida (Hirudinea) recorded from diff erent habitats and hosts in Turkey

To date, parasitic leech species have not been intensively studied in Turkey, and studies on the leeches of Turkey have concentrated primarily on lakes. According to literature data, a total of 13 parasitic leech species (3 species from marine fi sh, 8 species from freshwater fi sh, 1 species from brackish water fi sh, and 1 species from aquarium fi sh) have been recorded in diff erent parts of Turkey. Interest in this group has increased during the last 2 decades, but a large part of the Turkish freshwater habitats remains to be studied with regard to the parasitic leech species. In this study, information is given on the distribution of the leech species that have been previously recorded. Th e collected data show that the freshwater parasitic leech fauna of Turkey is composed of cosmopolitan or widely distributed species.