Trocheta africana Nesemann and Neubert, 1994

Ahmed, Raja Ben, Romdhane, Yasmina & Tekaya, Saïda, 2015, Checklist and Distribution of Marine and freshwater leeches (Annelida, Clitellata, Hirudinea) in Tunisia with identification key, Ecologica Montenegrina 2 (1), pp. 3-19 : 15-16

Trocheta africana Nesemann and Neubert, 1994

( Fig. 4C)

Diagnosis: The colour of living specimens is black. Four dark narrow longitudinal stripes are visible in the smooth dorsal surface. The area between the inner paramedian stripes is less pigmented than the rest. Lateral keels are present. The ventral surface is pale grey. Annulation: somites with eight annuli, the first two of which are short, followed by three longer ones and another three short annuli. Head is with four pairs of eyes. The gonopores are separated by two annuli.

Habitat: This species prefers stagnant water or slow running rivers or brooks. It occurs mainly in the higher regions of northern Tunisia (805–868 m asl.). The specimens were found attached to the underside of rocks and stones and underneath the dead leaves of Quercus suber .

Distribution: It has been discovered in Tunisia (in a stream near Hammam Bourguiba, a mountain stream between Thibar and Téboursouk and in a mountain stream near Ded Melah, Béja governorate) and from one locality in Algeria published as Dina lineata by Johansson (1914). In the present study we add its presence in 3 other stations in governorate of Jendouba: Parc ElFaïja, Oued Chobit Elméé, 36.30173N, 08.19080E; Oued Elfaïja, Jendouba, 36.48634N, 08.30773 E; Aïn Soltane, Jendouba, 36.31266N, 08.20157E.