Bennettinia

Bennettinia is a subgenus of the genus Plasmodium - all of which are parastic protozoa. The subgenus was created in 1997 by Valkiunas. [1] Species in this subgenus infect birds.

Plasmodium
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Chromalveolata
Superphylum: Alveolata
Phylum: Apicomplexa
Class: Aconoidasida
Order: Haemosporida
Family: Plasmodiidae
Genus: Plasmodium

Diagnostic features

Species in the subgenus Bennettinia have the following characteristics:

Schizonts contain scant cytoplasm, are often round, do not exceed the size of the host nucleus and stick to it.

Gametocytes while varying in shape tend to be round or oval, do not exceed the size of the nucleus and stick to it.

Species in this subgenus

References

  1. Valkiunas, G. (1997). Bird Haemosporidia. Institute of Ecology, Vilnius