Nephelopsis obscura
| Erpobdella obscura | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Annelida |
| Class: | Hirudinea |
| Order: | Arhynchobdellida |
| Family: | Erpobdellidae |
| Genus: | Erpobdella |
| Species: | E. obscura |
| Binomial name | |
|
Erpobdella obscura (Verrill, 1872) |
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Nephelopsis obscura Verrill, 1872 |
|
Nephelopsis obscura Verrill, 1872
Erpobdella obscura is a freshwater ribbon leech common in North America. It is a relatively large leech and is commonly used as bait by anglers for walleye and other sport fish. In Minnesota, live bait dealers annually harvest over 45,000 kg of bait-leeches, raising concerns of over-harvest.
Erpobdella obscura have semelparous life history, i.e., they die after reproduction. Generation length is from 12 to 24 months, with spring and summer generations occurring in some ponds. It is not a blood-sucking leech but is a predator on other invertebrates.
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