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The reproductive functions of Limnatis paluda were studied in laboratory conditions including imposing of two thermal conditions (T1: 18 ± 2 °C and T2: 26 ± 2 °C) and with there being placement of three bedding substrates (tile, moss, and stone) in the containers specimens were confined. Furthermore, values for reproductive variables of cocoons and hatchlings were recorded. With the T2 treatment, gravid adults had cocoon depositions, whereas those when there was imposing of the T1 treatment did not have cocoon depositions. There was cocoon deposition only on the moss bedding, and it is presumed that moss could provide a robust and stable nursing microenvironment for developing embryos. Frequency (%) of cocoon depositions did not vary during the months of the deposition period. Hatching occurred after 26 ± 2 days when there was imposing of the T2 treatment. There was no correlation between the values for size of the ovigerous cocoons and number of offspring. There was a negative correlation between number and mean weight of hatchlings. There was a difference in cocoon weight for the different months and fluctuation in mortality and hatching rate which is assumed to be related to differences in feeding behaviors.

Limnatis paluda (Tennant, 1859) (Fig. 14 and Plate V 1 A&B) Material examined. ZUTC-ann 1001, 1002. Kaskan Qanat, Khorasan Razavi, (N 36�� 15��38.8��, E 57�� 33��29.3��), 1098m, ZUTC 5990. Sheshtamad stone dam, Sabzevar, Khorasan Razavi (N 35�� 53��51.4��, E 57�� 44��13.8��), 1732m, ZUTC 5992. Kalate Aziz Abad, Khorasan Razavi, (N 35�� 54��40.8��, E 57�� 51��26.2��), 1369m, ZUTC 5993. Maydan Tir, 2 km after Aman Abad, Molk Abad, Khorasan Razavi, (N 36�� 02��11.7��, E 59�� 40��26.5��), 1152m, ZUTC 5994. Kalate Rouhani, western part of Atashgah, Khorasan Jonoubi, (N 35�� 18��0.5��, E 58�� 22��01.6��), 1120m, ZUTC 5996. Kohne Qanat, Mirzabailou, Golestan National Park, (N 37�� 24�� 02.9˝, E 56�� 11�� 56.1˝), 1603m, ZUTC 6008. Almeh valley trough, Golestan National Park, (N 37�� 21�� 14.3˝, E 56�� 11�� 53.7˝), 1358m, ZUTC 6009. Khartouran National Park, Semnan, (N 36�� 42�� 28.25˝, E 55�� 40�� 08.27˝), 1137m, ZUTC 6010. Tararan village, Tafresh, (N 34�� 41�� 31.38˝, E 50�� 0�� 42.48˝), 1908m, ZUTC 6039. Bayrambadan village, Ardabil, (N 38�� 28�� 32.8˝, E 48�� 14�� 50˝), 1433m, ZUTC 6055. Takagaj village, Miandoab, Azerbaijan Gharbi, (N 36�� 56�� 50.3˝, E 46�� 27�� 57.3˝), 1591 m, ZUTC 6068. Kourbolagh, Bolaghi-Zia-e-din road, Azerbaijan Gharbi, (N 38�� 59�� 37˝, E 45�� 00�� 19.3˝), 1316m, ZUTC 6062. Khezrlou, Chaldoran, Azerbaijan Gharbi, (N 39�� 02�� 48.9˝, E 44�� 19�� 56.1˝), 1906m, ZUTC 6064 (Fig. 1). General distribution and habitats. Known from the south-western Mediterranean part of the Western Palaearctic (Nesemann & Neubert 1999), also recorded by Bennike (1940) from western Iran. Living in troughs, channels and shallow slow running springs and streams frequently visited by herbivore herds and cattle attached to the wall of the channels or lurking in the mud. Descriptive features and remarks. Large leeches (to 120 mm) with a body shape like a semi-flattened cylinder. Caudal sucker large and wider than the maximum body width. Genital pores separated by five annuli. Dorsally and ventrally, uni-colored grass or dark green with no stripes or patches. Laterally with yellowish orange bands clearly visible (unlike the description by Sawyer, 1986). Papillae absent., Published as part of Darabi-Darestani, Kaveh, Sari, Alireza & Sarafrazi, Alimorad, 2016, Five new records and an annotated checklist of the leeches (Annelida: Hirudinida) of Iran, pp. 41-70 in Zootaxa 4170 (1) on page 60, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4170.1.2, http://zenodo.org/record/266620, {"references":["Nesemann, H. & Neubert, E. (1999) Annelida, Clitellata: Branchiobdellida, Acanthobdellea, Hirudinida. In: Schwoerbel, J. & Zwick, P. (Eds.), Sußwasserfauna von Mitteleuropa 6 / 2. Spektrum, Heidelberg, pp. 1 - 178.","Bennike, S. A. B. (1940) On some Iranian freshwater Hirudinida. In: Danish Scientific Investigations in Ira. Part II. Danske Zoologiske Tidsskrift, Copenhagen, pp. 1 - 10.","Sawyer, R. T. (1986) Leech biology and behaviour. Clarendon Press, Oxford, 234 pp."]}

Sawyer (1986) included three species in the nasal leech genus Limnatis Moquin-Tandon 1827: Limnatis nilotica (Savigny 1822), Limnatis bacescui Manoleli 1972 and Limnatis paluda (Tennent 1859). The first and last species have mainly been identified in Middle Eastern countries (e.g. Kinzelbach and Rückert 1985). The second species has been identified only in Romania Dobruja (Manoleli 1972). Although Limnatis leeches are well known species of endoparasitic leeches, Limnatis nilotica was recorded only once in Kazakhstan (Lukin 1976). Specimens of the genus Limnatis from Almaty Province, Kazakhstan are identified as Limnatis paluda. This is the first record of Limnatis paluda from Kazakhstan. Mitochondrial COI and 12S data demonstrated that the present specimens are genetically close to an Israeli specimen identified as Limnatis nilotica. In addition, molecular data suggest that some Limnatis specimens whose DNA sequences have been reported were misidentified. According to the observed phylogenetic relationships, the taxonomic status of the known Limnatis species should be revisited.