Recovery of the medicinal leech Hirudo medicinalis in Scotland - Phase II

The origin and background for this study is the work carried out in 1995 as Phase I of the SNH Recovery Programme for the Medicinal leech Hirudo medicinalis (Maitland 1996). No new sites were located, but H. medicinalis was found at the three sites identified in 1995. However, apart from one specimen, adults were only located during stone searches in deep water and by examining toads in spring; most cocoons were found during general shore searches. Altogether, 19 adults, 79 juveniles and 35 cocoons were found in 1996/97. Summary results of a 2012 survey (Kirkland 2013), confirming the continued presence of H. medicinalis at the two general locations where found in 1996, are also included.