Table 30 Key to the Haemoproteus species of Passeriformes birds (suborder Passeri) of the families Alaudidae, Cisticolidae, Melanocharitidae, Paridae

1 (8)

Roundish fully grown gametocytes (Fig. 31e, f) are absent

2 (9)

The nuclei of macrogametocytes usually are in subterminal position and do not locate close to the erythrocyte nuclei (Fig. 31a, b, d, i)

3 (10)

Fully grown gametocytes, which are closely appressed to the nuclei of erythrocytes but do not touch the envelope of the erythrocytes along their entire margin (Fig. 31h, i), are absent

4 (5)

The average number of pigment granules in fully grown gametocytes is greater than 15 (Fig. 31a)

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

H. wenyoni (Fig. 31a) [3, 139]

5 (4)

The average number of pigment granules in fully grown gametocytes is less than 15 (Fig. 31b)

6 (7)

Dumbbell-shaped gametocytes are present among growing advanced macrogametocytes (Fig. 31c), and such forms are common

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

H. majoris^a (Fig. 31b, c) [3, 28, 43, 91, 152, 153]

7 (6)

Dumbbell-shape gametocytes (Fig. 31c) are absent

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

H. alaudae (Fig. 31d) [3, 141]

8 (1)

Fully grown gametocytes are roundish; they markedly deform infected erythrocytes, markedly displace their nuclei, and can even enucleate the host cells (Fig. 31e, f)

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

H. parus^b (Fig. 31e, f) [3, 154]

9 (2)

The nuclei of macrogametocytes are median or submedian in positions; they usually adhere to the erythrocyte nuclei (Fig. 31g)

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

H. calandrellae (Fig. 31g) [3, 155]

10 (3)

Fully grown gametocytes are closely appressed to the nuclei of erythrocytes but

do not touch the envelope of the erythrocytes along their entire margin (Fig. 31h, i)

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

H. nucleophilus (Fig. 31h, i) [3, 156]