Branchiobdella

noun

Bran·​chi·​ob·​del·​la

ˌbraŋkēˌäbˈdelə,

-ēəb-

: a genus (the type of the family Branchiobdellidae) of small annelid worms that live on the gills and surface of crayfishes, have the posterior end modified into an adhesive sucker, and are now usually considered to form with a few related forms a superfamily of Oligochaeta though formerly regarded as modified leeches

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from branchi- + Greek bdella leech

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