Descriptions of the Reproductive Organs of Nephelopsis obscura and Erpobdella punctata (Hirudinoidea:Erpobdellidae)

During the study of the anatomy of mature Nephelopsis obscura and Erpobdella punctata the structure and distribution of the male and female reproductive organs were observed. The gonopores in N. obscura and E. punctata were separated by one and two annuli, respectively. In N. obscura, the multifollicular testes lie in two lateral columns in the form of bunches occupying the posterior third quarter of the body. Two U-shaped, elongated and tubular ovaries were present dorsal to the sperm duct and ventral to the alimentary canal, occupying five segments (XIII to XVII). The ratios between the body length and the length of the gonads (ovaries and testes) varied between 0.22 and 0.81. The length ratio of the testes to the ovaries ranged from 0.27 to 0.30. The reproductive organs of E. punctata were similar, although the ovaries and testes were longer.