A, B The gut lumen contents in the early marsupial manca of P. scaber includes homogenous material with evenly distributed bacteria (white →). A higher magnification of the squared area in the image A is shown in the image BBacteria are rod-shaped, contain electron dense cytoplasm and are surrounded by lucent spaces. C, D Empty gut lumen, observed in the late marsupial manca. The cuticle is in most regions considerably detached from the epithelium (DC). The epithelial cells are ventrally more prismatic and dorsally more isodiametric. A higher magnification of the ventral gut cells in the image D reveals basally accumulated lipid droplets (black →).