A New Species of Avian Plasmodium

SYNOPSIS. A new species of avian malaria parasite is described, for which the name Plasmodium formosanum is proposed. It was observed in the blood of Arboriphila crudigularis, the Formosan hill partridge; other bird species in which it may occur remain unknown, as do the mosquito vectors. It produces very broad, elongate gametocytes, the macrogametocyte usually exhibiting a very large vacuole. The usual number of merozoites is eight. The host cell nucleus typically is not displaced, except laterally by the sexual forms. Only the stages occurring in the blood have yet been seen.