taxonID	type	description	language	source
9E7B87ACFF812A5DFE092BC43C73BD8F.taxon	description	Figs 1 – 3	en	Grosser, Clemens, Barjadze, Shalva, Maghradze, Eter, Shavadze, Lado, Pešić, Vladimir, Faille, Arnaud (2023): On the taxonomic status of Dina ratschaensis Kobakhidze, 1958 with a description of two new species - Dina imeretiensis sp. nov. and D. samegreloensis sp. nov. (Annelida, Hirudinida: Erpobdellidae). European Journal of Taxonomy 891: 110-127, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2023.891.2275, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/2275/9799
9E7B87ACFF812A5DFE092BC43C73BD8F.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis Living specimens are tricolor, the anterior part is flesh coloured, the posterior part is dark bluish and the caudal sucker is white (Fig. 1). Medium sized leeches with a Dina - like heteronomous annulation. The midbody somites are subdivided into annuli b 1, b 2, a 2, b 5 and the broadened annulus b 6 (Fig. 2 F). The male genital pore is situated in furrow b 2 / a 2 and the female one in furrow b 6 / b 1. The genital pores are separated by three annuli. Preserved leeches show numerous small papillae on the dorsal and ventral sides. The cornua of the genital atrium are short, nearly parallel, curved ventrally with straight ends. The vasa deferentia are strongly curled in their entire course. The ovisacs are strongly winded in their entire caudal course (Fig. 3).	en	Grosser, Clemens, Barjadze, Shalva, Maghradze, Eter, Shavadze, Lado, Pešić, Vladimir, Faille, Arnaud (2023): On the taxonomic status of Dina ratschaensis Kobakhidze, 1958 with a description of two new species - Dina imeretiensis sp. nov. and D. samegreloensis sp. nov. (Annelida, Hirudinida: Erpobdellidae). European Journal of Taxonomy 891: 110-127, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2023.891.2275, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/2275/9799
9E7B87ACFF812A5DFE092BC43C73BD8F.taxon	etymology	Etymology Dina imeretiensis sp. nov. is named after the region of Georgia from which the type material was collected.	en	Grosser, Clemens, Barjadze, Shalva, Maghradze, Eter, Shavadze, Lado, Pešić, Vladimir, Faille, Arnaud (2023): On the taxonomic status of Dina ratschaensis Kobakhidze, 1958 with a description of two new species - Dina imeretiensis sp. nov. and D. samegreloensis sp. nov. (Annelida, Hirudinida: Erpobdellidae). European Journal of Taxonomy 891: 110-127, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2023.891.2275, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/2275/9799
9E7B87ACFF812A5DFE092BC43C73BD8F.taxon	materials_examined	Type material Holotype GEORGIA • body length 46 mm, width 7 mm, caudal sucker width 4 mm; Imereti region, Tskaltubo Municipality, village Kumistavi, Prometheus Cave; 42 ° 22 ′ 36 ″ N, 42 ° 36 ′ 02 ″ E; altitude - 40 m; 1 Aug. 2021; Sh. Barjadze, E. Maghradze and L. Shavadze leg.; IZISU: Al-T- 00002. Paratype GEORGIA • 1 spec. (body length 45 mm, width 7 mm, caudal sucker width 4 mm); same collection data as for holotype; GenBank accession number (partial fragment of cox 1 gene): OQ 001264; IZISU: AL-T- 00003. Comparative material Dina ratschaensis Kobakhidze, 1958 GEORGIA • 1 spec. (body length × width × caudal sucker width in mm: 50 × 9 × 6); Caucasus, Racha region, Ambrolauri municipality, Sakishore Cave; 30 Oct. 2021; Sh. Barjadze and E. Maghradze leg.; IZISU • 2 specs (body length × width × caudal sucker width in mm: 37 × 8 × 5, 15 × 4 × 2); same collection data as for preceding; private collection of the first author (Elstertrebnitz, Germany).	en	Grosser, Clemens, Barjadze, Shalva, Maghradze, Eter, Shavadze, Lado, Pešić, Vladimir, Faille, Arnaud (2023): On the taxonomic status of Dina ratschaensis Kobakhidze, 1958 with a description of two new species - Dina imeretiensis sp. nov. and D. samegreloensis sp. nov. (Annelida, Hirudinida: Erpobdellidae). European Journal of Taxonomy 891: 110-127, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2023.891.2275, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/2275/9799
9E7B87ACFF812A5DFE092BC43C73BD8F.taxon	description	Description HABITUS. Medium sized leeches; preserved and contracted adults reach a body length up to 46 mm and a width up to 7 mm (holotype, Fig. 2 A). The body shape is in the preclitellar and clitellar regions cylindrical and in the postclitellar region dorso-ventrally flattened (Fig. 2 B – C). The mouth opening is wide with barely noticeably elongated upper lip (Fig. 2 E). The caudal sucker is slightly wider than half of maximum body width (Fig. 2 D). Small but distinct papillae numerous on dorsal and ventral surface. ANNULATION. The annulation is typical of the genus Dina. The midbody somites are quinqueannulate and heteronomously subdivided by clear furrows into annuli b 1, b 2, a 2, b 5 and the clearly broadened annulus b 6. No tendency to split into further annuli visible (Fig. 2 F). The male genital pore is situated in furrow b 2 / a 2 and the female one in furrow b 6 / b 1. The genital pores are separated by three annuli. The dorsal and ventral sides are roughened by a multitude of small but clearly visible papillae. COLOURATION. The head, preclitellar and clitellar regions of living specimens are flesh coloured, the postclitellar region is dark bluish and the caudal sucker white (Fig. 1). Preserved specimens are unicolored bright greyish. Dark pattern like spots or stripes are absent (Fig. 2 A). EYES. No eyes are visible. SEXUAL ORGANS. The body of the genital atrium is large. The cornua are short, nearly parallel and curved ventrally. The ends of the cornua are straight and clearly offset from the vasa deferentia (Fig. 3 B – C). The vasa deferentia are strongly curled in their entire course, extending to the beginning of the sixth somite behind the female genital pore (on annulus b 1 of the sixth somite). They are particularly thickened from the fifth ganglion (Fig. 3 A). The ovisacs are short and strongly winded in their entire caudal course. They run dorsally over the vasa deferentia and reach on both sides up to the second ganglion behind the female genital pore (Fig. 3 A). Variability The variability between the two examined specimens (holotype and paratype) is low. Only the shape of the genital atrium showed noticeable differences. The cornua of the holotype are straight. The paratype has asymmetrical cornua; straight on the left and with a strong ventral-curved end on the right.	en	Grosser, Clemens, Barjadze, Shalva, Maghradze, Eter, Shavadze, Lado, Pešić, Vladimir, Faille, Arnaud (2023): On the taxonomic status of Dina ratschaensis Kobakhidze, 1958 with a description of two new species - Dina imeretiensis sp. nov. and D. samegreloensis sp. nov. (Annelida, Hirudinida: Erpobdellidae). European Journal of Taxonomy 891: 110-127, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2023.891.2275, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/2275/9799
9E7B87ACFF812A5DFE092BC43C73BD8F.taxon	biology_ecology	Habitat Individuals of the new leech species were sampled on the wet surface of the stalagmite in the dark zone of Prometheus Cave.	en	Grosser, Clemens, Barjadze, Shalva, Maghradze, Eter, Shavadze, Lado, Pešić, Vladimir, Faille, Arnaud (2023): On the taxonomic status of Dina ratschaensis Kobakhidze, 1958 with a description of two new species - Dina imeretiensis sp. nov. and D. samegreloensis sp. nov. (Annelida, Hirudinida: Erpobdellidae). European Journal of Taxonomy 891: 110-127, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2023.891.2275, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/2275/9799
9E7B87ACFF812A5DFE092BC43C73BD8F.taxon	distribution	Distribution The new species is only known from the type location.	en	Grosser, Clemens, Barjadze, Shalva, Maghradze, Eter, Shavadze, Lado, Pešić, Vladimir, Faille, Arnaud (2023): On the taxonomic status of Dina ratschaensis Kobakhidze, 1958 with a description of two new species - Dina imeretiensis sp. nov. and D. samegreloensis sp. nov. (Annelida, Hirudinida: Erpobdellidae). European Journal of Taxonomy 891: 110-127, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2023.891.2275, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/2275/9799
9E7B87ACFF852A50FE032CB13A5FBAB6.taxon	description	Figs 4 – 5	en	Grosser, Clemens, Barjadze, Shalva, Maghradze, Eter, Shavadze, Lado, Pešić, Vladimir, Faille, Arnaud (2023): On the taxonomic status of Dina ratschaensis Kobakhidze, 1958 with a description of two new species - Dina imeretiensis sp. nov. and D. samegreloensis sp. nov. (Annelida, Hirudinida: Erpobdellidae). European Journal of Taxonomy 891: 110-127, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2023.891.2275, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/2275/9799
9E7B87ACFF852A50FE032CB13A5FBAB6.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis Small-sized erpobdellids with a Dina - like heteronomous annulation. The midbody somites are subdivided into annuli b 1, b 2, a 2, b 5 and the broadened annulus b 6 (Fig. 4 F). The male genital pore is situated in furrow b 2 / a 2 and the female one in furrow b 6 / b 1. The genital pores are separated by three annuli (Fig. 4 G). Preserved leeches show numerous small and inconspicuous papillae on the dorsal and ventral sides. The cornua of the genital atrium are short, straight and directed slightly laterally (Fig. 5 B – C). The vasa deferentia are very slightly curled up to the third ganglion behind the female genital pore. The ovisacs extend to the end of the second or the beginning of the third somite behind the female gonopore. They are unwinded to the end of the first somite and then coiled to the end (Fig. 5 A).	en	Grosser, Clemens, Barjadze, Shalva, Maghradze, Eter, Shavadze, Lado, Pešić, Vladimir, Faille, Arnaud (2023): On the taxonomic status of Dina ratschaensis Kobakhidze, 1958 with a description of two new species - Dina imeretiensis sp. nov. and D. samegreloensis sp. nov. (Annelida, Hirudinida: Erpobdellidae). European Journal of Taxonomy 891: 110-127, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2023.891.2275, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/2275/9799
9E7B87ACFF852A50FE032CB13A5FBAB6.taxon	etymology	Etymology Dina samegreloensis sp. nov. is named after the region of Georgia from which the holotype was collected.	en	Grosser, Clemens, Barjadze, Shalva, Maghradze, Eter, Shavadze, Lado, Pešić, Vladimir, Faille, Arnaud (2023): On the taxonomic status of Dina ratschaensis Kobakhidze, 1958 with a description of two new species - Dina imeretiensis sp. nov. and D. samegreloensis sp. nov. (Annelida, Hirudinida: Erpobdellidae). European Journal of Taxonomy 891: 110-127, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2023.891.2275, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/2275/9799
9E7B87ACFF852A50FE032CB13A5FBAB6.taxon	materials_examined	Type material Holotype GEORGIA • body length 32 mm, width 6 mm, caudal sucker width 4 mm; Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region, Martvili Municipality, village Pirveli Balda, Motena Cave; 42 ° 28 ′ 35.73 ″ N, 42 ° 23 ′ 28.25 ″ E; altitude 492 m; 7 Oct. 2021; Sh. Barjadze, L. Shavadze and E. Maghradze leg.; IZISU: AL-T - 00004.	en	Grosser, Clemens, Barjadze, Shalva, Maghradze, Eter, Shavadze, Lado, Pešić, Vladimir, Faille, Arnaud (2023): On the taxonomic status of Dina ratschaensis Kobakhidze, 1958 with a description of two new species - Dina imeretiensis sp. nov. and D. samegreloensis sp. nov. (Annelida, Hirudinida: Erpobdellidae). European Journal of Taxonomy 891: 110-127, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2023.891.2275, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/2275/9799
9E7B87ACFF852A50FE032CB13A5FBAB6.taxon	description	Description HABITUS. Small-sized erpobdellid. Preserved and contracted individuals reach a body length up to 32 mm and a width up to 6 mm (holotype, Fig. 4 A – B). The body dorso-ventrally flattened in the posterior part, the first third (preclitellar and clitellar regions) cylindrical (Fig. 4 C). The mouth opening is wide and the upper lip barely noticeably elongated (Fig. 4 E). The caudal sucker is slightly wider than half of maximum body width (Fig. 4 D). Small papillae numerous on dorsal and ventral surface. ANNULATION. The annulation is typical of the genus Dina. The midbody somites are quinqueannulate and heteronomousely subdivided by clear furrows into annuli b 1, b 2, a 2, b 5 and the clearly broadened annulus b 6. Annulus b 1 is sometimes also slightly broadened, especially in the posterior part of the body (Fig. 4 F). A tendency to split into further annuli is not visible. The male genital pore is situated in furrow b 2 / a 2 and the female one in furrow b 6 / b 1. The genital pores are separated by three annuli (Fig. 4 G). The dorsal and ventral sides are roughened by numerouse papillae. The papillae are very small and inconspicuous. COLOURATION. The colouration of living specimen is pale pink. Preserved specimens are unicolored greyish without any dark patterns (Fig. 4 A – C). EYES. No eyes are visible. SEXUAL ORGANS. The body of the genital atrium is large. The cornua are short, strong, straight and directed slightly laterally (Fig. 5 B – C). The vasa deferentia are clearly offset from the cornua. They run relatively straight and only very slightly curled up to the third ganglion behind the female genital pore, then more coiled up to the end of the fifth somite behind the female genital pore (Fig. 5 A). The ovisacs run straight and unwinded to the end of the first somite behind the female genital pore. The right ovisac is strongly coiled and reaches the end of the second somite behind the female gonopore. The left ovisac has a slightly coiled end and reaches the annulus b 2 of the third somite behind the female gonopore (Fig. 5 A). Variability Information on variability is not yet possible. Only the holotype is known.	en	Grosser, Clemens, Barjadze, Shalva, Maghradze, Eter, Shavadze, Lado, Pešić, Vladimir, Faille, Arnaud (2023): On the taxonomic status of Dina ratschaensis Kobakhidze, 1958 with a description of two new species - Dina imeretiensis sp. nov. and D. samegreloensis sp. nov. (Annelida, Hirudinida: Erpobdellidae). European Journal of Taxonomy 891: 110-127, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2023.891.2275, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/2275/9799
9E7B87ACFF852A50FE032CB13A5FBAB6.taxon	biology_ecology	Habitat The single individual of this new leech species was found under a stone in the subterranean water stream in the dark zone of Motena Cave.	en	Grosser, Clemens, Barjadze, Shalva, Maghradze, Eter, Shavadze, Lado, Pešić, Vladimir, Faille, Arnaud (2023): On the taxonomic status of Dina ratschaensis Kobakhidze, 1958 with a description of two new species - Dina imeretiensis sp. nov. and D. samegreloensis sp. nov. (Annelida, Hirudinida: Erpobdellidae). European Journal of Taxonomy 891: 110-127, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2023.891.2275, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/2275/9799
9E7B87ACFF852A50FE032CB13A5FBAB6.taxon	distribution	Distribution The new species is only known from the type location.	en	Grosser, Clemens, Barjadze, Shalva, Maghradze, Eter, Shavadze, Lado, Pešić, Vladimir, Faille, Arnaud (2023): On the taxonomic status of Dina ratschaensis Kobakhidze, 1958 with a description of two new species - Dina imeretiensis sp. nov. and D. samegreloensis sp. nov. (Annelida, Hirudinida: Erpobdellidae). European Journal of Taxonomy 891: 110-127, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2023.891.2275, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/2275/9799
9E7B87ACFF852A50FE032CB13A5FBAB6.taxon	diagnosis	Differential diagnoses Dina absoloni, a southeastern European cave leech was reported from Georgia by Lukin (1976). This species was not really found in Georgia but was confused with other cave leeches (with D. ratschaensis or an other similar species of Dina, undescribed or here described; see also Discussion). Dina absoloni differs from species of Dina living in Georgian karst caves by the position of the gonopores (the male genital pore is situated in furrow b 1 / b 2 and the female one in furrow b 5 / b 6) and differences in the reproductive system (ovisacs long, reach up to the eight ganglion behind the female gonopore; from the third ganglion onward, the ovisacs extend strong coiled alongside the nervous system to the caudal end; Fig. 7 C). The cave dwelling leech Erpobdella borisi Cichocka & Bielecki, 2015, a species originally described from the Sahoolan Cave in northern Iran (West Azerbaijan Province) shows a similar gonopore position and also a Dina - like annulation with ring b 6 divided into c 11, c 12. Therefore, the female gonopore is located in furrow b 5 / c 11 (Cichocka et al. 2015: fig. 4 a – b). However, in Dina spp. from the Georgian karst caves, the pore of the male genital organ is located in furrow b 2 / a 2, and the female one in b 6 / b 1. Further diffences are found in the shape of the reproductive system. The ovisacs of E. borisi are long and extend to the seventh ganglion behind the female gonopore (Cichocka et al. 2015: fig. 5 a), while in Dina spp. from Georgian karst caves they are short and extends at most to the third somite behind the female genital pore. However, with regard to the shape of the vasa deferentia and ovisacs (Figs 3 A, 5 A, 7 A) both new species show the greatest similarity with D. ratschaensis. The vasa deferentia of D. samegreloensis sp. nov. are only very slightly curled up to the third ganglion behind the female genital pore. The vasa deferentia of D. imeretiensis sp. nov. and D. ratschaensis are strongly curled along their entire course. The ovisacs of D. imeretiensis and D. ratschaensis are strongly winded along their entire caudal course (Figs 3 A, 7 A). In contrast, the ovisacs of D. samegreloensis are only winded in their posterior half (Fig. 5 A). Dina imeretiensis sp. nov. and D. ratschaensis can be clearly separated by the shape of the genital atrium. The cornua of the atrium in D. imeretiensis are nearly parallel and curved ventrally with straight ends (Fig. 3 B – C). In D. ratschaensis the cornua are curved first laterally and then sharply to median and only slightly ventrally. The ends of the cornua are strongly kinked ventrally and not clearly offset from the vasa deferentia (Fig. 7 A). Further differences occur in the length of the ovisacs. The ovisacs of D. imeretiensis extend up to the second ganglion behind the female genital pore (Fig. 3 A). The ovisacs of D. ratschaensis are longer and extend up to the end of the second somite or up to the beginning of the third somite (on annulus b 1) behind the female gonopore (Fig. 7 A). The colouring of living specimens differs as well. The head, preclitellar region and caudal sucker of D. ratschaensis are whitish, the clitellar and postclitellar regions are light brownish (Fig. 6). Dina imeretiensis shows a dark bluish postclitellar region, the caudal sucker is whitish and the other body regions are flesh coloured (Fig. 1).	en	Grosser, Clemens, Barjadze, Shalva, Maghradze, Eter, Shavadze, Lado, Pešić, Vladimir, Faille, Arnaud (2023): On the taxonomic status of Dina ratschaensis Kobakhidze, 1958 with a description of two new species - Dina imeretiensis sp. nov. and D. samegreloensis sp. nov. (Annelida, Hirudinida: Erpobdellidae). European Journal of Taxonomy 891: 110-127, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2023.891.2275, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/2275/9799
