Early Researchers Involved with Branchiobdellidans (Annelida: Clitellata) on Japanese Crayfish, and a Reassessment of the Taxonomic Status of Branchiobdella digitata Pierantoni, 1906

摘要

During a visit to the Musee des Confluences in Lyon. France, specimens of the branchiobdellidan Cirrodrilus cirratus were discovered on four endemic Japanese crayfish, Cambaroidesjaponicus, that had been donated to the museum in 1889. This discovery was placed in context with a review of the early international researchers involved with studying Japanese branchiobdellidans. Concomitantly, investigations on Cirrodrilus inukaii, including morphological variations, led to a reassessment of the taxonomic status of Branchiobdella digitata Pierantoni, 1906. This resulted in B. digitata being transferred to the genus Cirrodrilus as C. digitatus (Pierantoni, 1906) comb. n. and C. inukaii (Yamaguchi, 1934) recognised as a junior synonym of C. digitatus (new synonymy). These studies have demonstrated the importance of good preservation practices and particularly the need in future decapod collections so as to conserve the present diversity of their delicate ectosymbionts.