Checklist / Semiscolecidae / Patagoniobdella / Patagoniobdella variabilis
Patagoniobdella variabilis
· Semiscolecidae
External morphology
Dorsum typically dark reddish-brown with medial and paramarginal longitudinal zones of light brown pigment patches when alive. Cephalic somites with five pairs of pyriform eyespots arranged in parabolic arc on uniannulate somites II, III, IV, and on first annulus of biannulate somites V and VI Gonopores separated by 1/2 + 2 + 1/2 annuli, male gonopore on annulus XII b1, female gonopore on annulus XII b5.
Internal morphology
Testisacs at interganglionic intervals. Anteriormost testisacs at XIV/XV are unpaired (i.e., two testisacs at interval), whereas those at XV/XVI through XXIII/XXIV appear as doublets on each side (figs. 22, 24). Ascending male sperm ducts (i.e., “vasa deferentia”) lateral to testisacs, thin and fragile in specimens from Lago Villarica but robust in specimen from Lago Heurquehue (figs. 22, 24). Tightly coiled proximal sperm ducts (i.e., “epididymes”) in XIV and XV, both sets arranged to the left of penis sheath with ejaculatory ducts entering “prostate” glandular region of penis sheath at XVI without procurrent posterior loop . Base of penis sheath at XIX. Female reproductive anatomy arranged principally to the right of midline. Vaginal sac ends at XIII ; common oviduct without procurrent loop and returning anteriad along vaginal sac to a single globular ovisac in XII. Gastric tissue and intestines unbranched. Gastric/intestinal sphincter in XIX. Two annuli between anus and caudal sucker.
Habitat & range
- Habitat
- Freshwater
- Region
- South America
- Recorded from
- Chile
Original description
Blanchard, Raphael. (1900). Hirudineen. Ergebnisse der Hamburger Magalhaensischen Sammelreise 1892/93 3: 1-20, 1 plate.