Southeast Alaskan Notes

Of the three hundred described species of Hirudinea, about half a dozen live along the Alaskan coastline.  Notostomum cyclostoma can be found in abundance in Bristol Bay and the Probilof Islands in Southwest Alaska, just north of the Aleutian Islands.  They are rarely found any further south than Alaska.  One sure place to find these leaches is in the live crab tanks of small grocers all over southern Alaska or on any of the crab boats returning to harbor.  This is due to their tendency to lay their eggs on the carapace of various species of crab that reside in Alaska, such as the Red King Crab, Golden King Crab, and the Tanner Crab. Notostomum cyclostoma uses the crab carapaces solely for deposition of egg cocoons and does not actually use the crab as a host, this is why you can find the leeches still attached to the crab at market.  They will not harm the quality of the crabmeat and there is no need for grocers or crabbers to remove them, other than for the ominous reputation of leaches that may deter the consumer.