The freshwater ribbon worm is a species of global conservation concern
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Worms
This section covers just two worm species:
- Medicinal leech (Hirudo medicinalis)
- Freshwater ribbon worm (Prostoma jenningsi)
Medicinal leech
The medicinal leech has been recorded in only 17 sites in England since 1980, eight of which are in Cumbria and the remainder in a small area of Kent.
It tends to occur in fairly small water bodies that are vulnerable to local changes in land use and conditions. The scattered distribution is probably due to the release of leeches into local ponds after being used for medicinal purposes. The preferred habitat is a pond or lake where the water temperature is warm enough for the leech to be sufficiently active to feed and reproduce. These are usually shallow or shallow-edged tarns with some fringing emergent vegetation. Food sources are usually water birds or amphibians, although grazing cattle or horses are sometimes utilised.
Freshwater ribbon worm
Prostoma jenningsi is only known from the type locality, a pond in the local authority district of Chorley, Lancashire, the origins of which are former clay pits. A search of over 200 ponds in Lancashire, Merseyside and Wirral regions has failed to locate any other sites. The presence of this species was re-confirmed at its type locality in 1998.
For further information please see the document for download on this page.
