60. Piscicola geometra (Linnaeus, 1761)

Hirudo geometra Linnaeus, 1758

Geographic distribution.

Transpalearctic species. In tundra zone of Russia: Kharbey lakes (Zaloznyj 1978), northern part of Western Siberia (Zaloznyj 1984), the Yamal Peninsula (Stepanov 2016, 2017).

Location.

There are findings in Lake Sudorma (67°17'31.07"N, 50°16'25.58"E) situated in the neighbouring area to Bolshezemelskaya tundra.

Ecology.

Piscicola geometra is considered to be an oxyphilic species. It inhabits both rivers and stagnant water bodies with a favorable oxygen regime. This is an ectoparasite predominantly of cyprinids, with no obvious host preference. A single specimen was sampled from the dorsal fin of a whitefish.