Mesobdella gemmata

External morphology

Dorsum variable tawny brown to deep brown field when alive with darker longitudinal pigment patterns following paramedial and marginal ridges especially posteriorly (figs. 7, 8, 9). Cephalic somites slightly widened at V with five pairs of eyespots, one on each of II, III, IV, V, and VI (fig. 10). Midbody somites triannulate. Posteriolateral respiratory auricles absent (fig. 11). Male gonopore on annulus XI a3 very near furrow of XI a2/a3 ; female gonopore in furrow at XII/ XIII.

Internal morphology

Median reproductive apparatus micromorphic (fig. 12) with male penis sheath in XII a1 and a2, entirely anterior to female organs (fig. 12). No common oviduct. Paired oviducts short, inserting ventrally into vagina in XII a3. Ovisacs ovoid in XII a3. Vagina initially in XIII a1 but recurved anteriad well into XII a3 and with short caecum anterior to oviductal insertion point (fig. 13). Ejaculatory ducts thin with short preatrial loop between base of penis sheath and epididymes. Epididymes in XII a1 and a2.

Habitat & range

Habitat

Terrestrial

Region

South America

Recorded from

Chile