Terrestrial Leech Natural History 131 



As described by Sawyer and Shelley (1976), the dorsal pigment pattern 

 of H. septagon (Fig. 1) is typically dark olive-green with a faint, 

 longitudinal middorsal stripe and numerous scattered black flecks; the 

 venter is lighter olive-green without flecks. Variation in this pattern has 

 been noted among the individuals reported below. Juveniles and some 

 adults also display yellowish marginal stripes, which are most con- 

 spicuous on the leech from Duplin County (NCSM PI 77) (see locality 

 data below). Here the pattern resembles that exhibited by H. terrestris 

 (Sawyer 1972, Fig. 13F). A reddish immature leech was collected in a 

 sample containing five additional fully pigmented juveniles of the same 

 size and, presumably, the same age. This individual is uniformly red on 

 both surfaces, possibly because of blood in the underlying musculature, 

 and the eyes, middorsal stripe, and flecks are faintly visible. Its color is 

 similar to that of an albino specimen of Dina absolom Johansson (Erpob- 

 dellidae) from a cave in Yugoslavia (Johansson 1913). Other reports of 

 albino leeches are of white specimens, however, and include an uniden- 

 tified species of Philaemon (Haemadipsidae) from a cave in New Guinea 

 (Ewers 1974), and Erpobdella punctata punctata (Leidy) (Erpobdellidae) 

 from a lake in southern Michigan (Sawyer 1970). It is noteworthy that 

 the juvenile H. septagon was collected with five fully pigmented juveniles of 

 apparently the same age. Thus, its reduced pigmentation may be reflec- 

 tive of a recessive genotype for color. 



The six juveniles mentioned above and two adults were collected on 19 

 April 1976 in northern Wake County. The imm^tures were generally 

 smaller than the adults in physical dimensions, and the female gonopore 

 was flattened and contiguous with the ventral surface instead of elevated 

 and nipple-shaped. The gonopores conformed to the species description 

 in location, the male being 24 annuli posterior to the oral sucker and 6 Vi- 

 7 annuli anterior to the female opening. Elevation of the female gonopore 

 is apparently achieved later in development and is not characteristic of 

 young individuals. 



The habitat of H. septagon is similar to that mentioned earlier for H. 

 terrestris. The leech is usually encountered on moist floodplains in 

 deciduous forests; the areas immediately surrounding floodplain ponds 

 and backwaters of rivers and creeks seem to be preferred. Most in- 

 dividuals are found under or inside partially buried, rotting logs, and 

 some have been taken from wet leaf litter. Several specimens were collec- 

 ted from seepage areas on hardwood slopes. All of the leeches have been 

 found close to but not in standing water, in areas also inhabited by large 

 earthworms. During preservation some specimens regurgitated portions 

 of earthworms, which appear to be their primary food. 



The following new localities, all in North Carolina, are reported for H. 



