Erpobdella testacea

Uniform reddish-brown colour (lacking the black & yellow pigment flecks of E. octoculata). Uniform segmentation. Four clear anterior eyes with a second arc of eyes slightly posterior to the first arc and in two pairs laterally.

Erpobdella octoculata is a similar size and shape, and the same eye pattern, but has black and yellow flecking on the dorsal surface.

In freshwater attaching to stones and logs.They can be particularly common in small ponds where this a build up of partially decayed vegetation, lowering the oxygen content.

Mature specimens in March-May.

This species is a carnivore, feeding on small worms, crustaceans, insect larvae and other tiny freshwater animals. It has an annual lifecycle where it matures and breeds in early Spring, then dies by the end of May.

Widespread and fairly frequent in Britain.

Probably fairly frequent in Leicestershire and Rutland, though not well recorded.