The endogenous life cycles of all Eimeria species are similar.
Development occurs within epithelial cells of the villi of the mid- and lower small intestine.
Mature first generation schizonts have a mean size of around 30 x 18.5 um and contain up to 200 merozoites. Mature second and third generation schizonts are smaller - 18.2 x 11.0 um and 64 merozoites and 20.7 x 13.8 um and 74 merozoites. First generation are abundant in the lower halves of the villi and second and thirds are usually located in the upper halves of the villi. Gamonts are first seen around 102 hours along the length of the villi and mature around 108 hours at the earliest.