Figure 6 | Scientific Reports

Figure 6

From: Life cycle and development of the marine leech Branchellion lobata (Hirudinea: Piscicolidae), from round stingrays, Urobatis halleri, from southern California

Figure 6

Adult Branchellion lobata without a blood meal for 25 days. At Day 0, there was obvious fresh blood in the stomach diverticula (arrowheads) and darker digested blood in the lateral diverticula. The bright red blood meal of newly fed B. lobata appears to move posteriorly and turns dark without replenishment of fresh blood anteriorly. By Day 8, there was very little observable blood meal, and the testisacs became most prominent on Day 12. Only 1 leech survived to Day 25, but was extremely small compared to leeches at Day 0. Photos taken with a Pentax Optio WG-III digital camera over a light box. Day 4 is a ventral view. All others are dorsal views. All scale bars, 1 mm.

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