Worms that suck: Phylogenetic analysis of Hirudinea solidifies the position of Acanthobdellida and necessitates the dissolution of Rhynchobdellida.

ABSTRACT

Annelids possessing a posterior sucker and a fixed number of somites - most famously leeches (Hirudinida), but also crayfish worms (Branchiobdellida) and salmonid parasites (Acanthobdellida) - form a clade; however, determining the relationships between these orders has proven challenging. Here, we compile the largest molecular phylogenetic dataset yet analysed for these groups, including new sequences for key taxa. We find robust model-based support for a clade formed by Hirudinida and Acanthobdellida, contrasting the largest prior studies. We determine that conflicting prior studies included contaminant sequences for Acanthobdella peledina. In addition to this broad-scale comparison, the size of our dataset grants us invaluable insight into the internal relationships of leeches and crayfish worms. Of particular importance, a largely marine clade of leeches (Piscicolidae and Ozobranchidae) is recovered as sister to all remaining Hirudinida. This necessitates the dissolution of the paraphyletic suborder Rhynchobdellida into two new suborders (Oceanobdelliformes and Glossiphoniiformes). Likewise, we decompose Arhynchobdellida into its respective suborders Hirudiniformes, Erpobdelliformes, and the new, monotypic, Americobdelliformes.