Placobdella cryptobranchii (Johnson & Klemm, 1977) Moser et al., 2006

Moser, William E., Briggler, Jeffrey T., Richardson, Dennis J., Schuette, Chawna D., Hammond, Charlotte I., Hopkins, William A. & Lazo-Wasem, Eric A., 2013, Redescription and molecular characterization of Placobdella cryptobranchii (Johnson & Klemm, 1977) (Glossiphoniidae, Hirudinida), ZooKeys 338, pp. 1-10 : 3-5

Placobdella cryptobranchii (Johnson & Klemm, 1977) Moser et al., 2006 Figures 3-5

Batracobdella cryptobranchii Syn. Johnson & Klemm, 1977; Actinobdella cryptobranchii Sawyer, 1986; Desserobdella cryptobranchii Barta & Sawyer, 1990

External morphology.

Body very deeply ovoid to obovoid. Length of preserved specimens 3.6-13.3 mm long, mean ± SE: 6.6 ± 0.3 mm (n=42), width at widest point (in posterior half of body) 2.1-6.6 mm, mean ± SE: 3.8 ± 0.2 mm (n=42). Dorsum rusty, reddish-brown with 2 lateral rows of unpigmented papillae (Figure 3); smaller sensillae on every annulus (absent on poorly-preserved specimens). Apical cephalic region unpigmented, extending and tapering posteriorly through two thin nuchal bands (Figure 3). Two pair of eye spots (one pair much larger than the other) within cephalic unpigmented region. Unpigmented genital bar and anal patch with some specimens possessing unpigmented patch in between unpigmented genital bar and anal patch (Figure 3). Pigmentation gradually fades in ethanol and may not be present in poorly-preserved specimens. Beginning adjacent to the anus, just anterior to the anus furrow, and commencing anteriad are two rows of 4 pre-anal papillae (the last row, most anteriad, papillae are medially indented) (Figure 4). Caudal sucker small, 0.4-1.9 mm in diameter, mean ± SE: 1.1 ± 0.1 (n=35), and unpigmented or with large unpigmented patches. No papillae on caudal sucker or 1 row of small papillae on the lateral edge. Ventrum unpigmented with male and female gonopores in furrows and separated by 2 annuli.

Alimentary tract.

Proboscis pore just posteriad of the rim/lip of the oral sucker. Blunt-tipped proboscis, nearly uniformly cylindrical, slightly enlarged at base, and in membranous sheath (Figure 5). In the anterior third of the leech, salivary cells strewn on either side of the proboscis (Figure 5). Salivary cells most numerous in three somites at the base of the proboscis, and more scattered anteriad and posteriad of that region. Retractor muscle attached to dorsal body wall and joining salivary ductule bundles attaching at each side of the base of the proboscis. Slim, flaccid esophagus extends from the base of the proboscis with one pair sac-like mycetomes [called esophageal diverticulum by Johnson and Klemm (1977)]. Seven pair of diverticulated crop ceca, last pair extending posteriorly and diverticulated into four sections. Four pair of simple, saccular intestinal ceca with last pair extending posteriad. Simple rectum opening to anus, located one annulus anteriad of the caudal sucker.

Reproductive system.

(Male) Male gonopores slightly raised. Male atrium opening into paired very broadly orbicular atrial cornuae extending laterally and anteriorly from male gonopore into robust, coiled, muscular ejaculatory ducts, recurving posteriorly to robust seminal vesicles and narrow vas deferentia connecting to testisacs (Figure 5). Six pair of testisacs, each testisac located in the space between a pair of crop ceca (Figure 5). (Female) Female gonopore simple, opening to pair of bifurcated ovisacs and located within coelomic space that is attached on the ventral body wall (Figure 5). Ovisac length depends on the reproductive condition of the leech. In the specimens examined in this study, the ovisac extended posteriad to the sixth testisac or past the sixth testisac. Anterior, cecum-like extensions of the ovisacs are smaller and more delicate than those of the main posterior section.

Laboratory observations on life history

6 May, 2013: Presented Placobdella cryptobranchii with brood to Necturus maculosus in 5 gallon tank. No reaction; 2 others no reaction after one hour; 2 others left over-night–did not respond.

4 June, 2013: Presented 2 Placobdella cryptobranchii to Necturus maculosus in 5 gal tank. - one did not respond and one exhibited vigorous host seeking behavior.: Leech examined skin of Necturus maculosus for about first 10 minutes but did not feed. Host seeking behavior subsided over the next few moments and the leech then exhibited no further interest.