Garrulax erythrocephalus (Vigors, 1832)

Paperna, Ilan, Keong, Malcolm Soh Chu & May, Charlotte Yap Aye, 2008, Haemosporozoan Parasites Found In Birds In Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Sarawak And Java, Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 56 (2), pp. 211-243 : 221

Garrulax erythrocephalus

Locality. – Malaysia: Cameron Highlands , Dec.2002 .

Description. – The gametocytes are short, stout (Table 5), end bluntly, loosely appose the host-cell nucleus, do not embrace it and usually closely apply to the erythrocyte pellicle. They occasionally displace the host-cell nucleus. No wall projections or amoeboid out growths are formed. The macrogametocyte cytoplasm stains faint-blue and the nucleus is distal or sub-distal. The microgametocyte nucleus is scattered. The medium and small size pigment granules, numbering 15–20, are accompanied by variable numbers of volutin granules, aggregated on both distal margins, and sometimes also in the middle zone. The juvenile stages develop attached to the erythrocyte’s margins and in detachment from the host nucleus.

Etymology. – Named for its blunt shape.

Remarks. – This blunt Haemoproteus is reminiscent of Hae. fallisi Bennett & Campbell, 1972 , Hae. minutus Valkiunas & Iezhova 1992 and Hae. copsychi , presently described. In mixed infections with Hae. timalus , or in specimens damaged due to haemolysis, this species cannot be readily differentiated from premature Hae. timalus . Haemoproteus minutus as well as Hae. fallisi and Hae. timalus juveniles develop attached to the nucleus; in Hae. copsychi , the macrogametocyte nucleus is central. Some Hae. fallisi and Hae. minutus form wall projections and also in Hae. cf. copsychi from Alc. peracensis one microgametocyte is seen to produce wall projections.