Placobdella brasiliensis

External morphology

Body flattened. Ratio of total length to maximum width: 2.0 to 2.1. Ratio of maximum body width to acetabulum diameter: 1.6 to 1.8. Capitulum formed by the constituent annuli of segments I through IV; the post-buccal annulus is somite V. Complete somite 2-annulate; the two annuli are unequal in the genital region, but subsequently both are equally developed, showing no traces of subdivision. Mouth located at the level of XI/XII. Two eyes on somite II. Anus on XXVII. Small dorsal tubercles are present. Somite I is 1-annulate; II through XXV are 2-annulate; XXVI through XXVII are 1-annulate. Gonopores separated by annulus XII (a1–a2); the male gonopore is located at XI/XII, and the female gonopore at XII (a1–a2)/a3. Color (in preserved specimens): light yellow.

Internal morphology

Six pairs of testes. No other endosomatic characters are known.

Habitat & range

Habitat

Freshwater

Region

South America

Recorded from

Brazil

Junior synonyms

Oligobdella brasiliensis