Leeches (Annelida, Hirudinea) fauna of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic

The fauna of the leeches of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic is represented by 10 species belonging to 9 genera, 5 families, 2 orders and one class. According to zoogeographical affiliation, leech species belong to 4 faunistic complexes. In the benthic infauna of various types of water bodies, glossyphonides predominate in the frequency of occurrence and abundance of individuals. An extremely rare medical leech ( Hirudo medicinalis ) is the only practically useful representative of the girudofauna. Functional significance of other species in biocenoses is low. The article also presents data on morphology, body sizes, objects of finding and biotopes of leeches of fauna of Nakhchivan.