FIRST DATA ON THE TAXONOMIC COMPOSITION OF LEECHES FROM THE KHOJAIPOK RIVER, SURKHANDARYA BASIN, UZBEKISTAN

Abstract

This study presents the first data on the leech fauna of the Khojaipok river (Southern Uzbekistan) based on field surveys conducted in 2024–2025. Sampling was performed across different aquatic biotopes using standard hydrobiological methods. Four leech species belonging to three families and four suborders of the order Hirudinida were identified.