Stachyris nigricollis (Temm.)

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 : 234

Stachyris nigricollis (Temm.)

Locality. – Malaysia: Fraser’s Hil , Aug. and Nov.2002 .

Description. – The observed gametocytes are slender, extend throughout the length of the erythrocyte with the side facing the host nucleus being curled (undulated) and only the tips touching the nucleus. Uninfected erythrocytes are 10.5 ± 0.65 × 6.4 ± 0.21 in size, with 5.4 ± 0.36 × 2.4 ± 0.27 nuclear size. The macrogametocyte-infected erythrocytes are 10.5–12.8 × 5.3– 5.9 in size, their nuclei 4.9–5.7 × 2.0– 3.5 in size, and not or only lightly displaced: NDR = 0.71–0.94. Macrogametocytes (n = 3) are 13.2–15.4 (cross 11.6–12.8) long, 1.8–2.4 wide (n = 3), the nuclei 2.2–3.2 × 1.5–1.7 in size, are submedian. The microgametocyteinfected erythrocytes are 12.1 ± 0.91 × 6.1 ± 0.57 in size; their nuclei 5.5 ± 0.20 × 2.0 ± 0.16 in size and only in some cases is lightly displaced: NDR 0.64–1.0 (0.82 ± 0.12). The microgametocytes (n = 5) are 14.5 ± 1.18 (cross 11.7 ± 0.67) long and 2 ± 0.14 wide.

Etymology. – Named for the slender shape of the gametocytes.

Remarks. – There are only a few known species of Haemoproteus which retain slender gametocytes at maturity. None of such species of Hae. balearicae Peirce, 1973, of cranes, Hae. contortus Bennett, 1979, of waders and Hae. nisi Peirce & Marquiss, 1983, of hawks and buzzards, might be affiliated with the presently described species. It is however not beyond a doubt that these gametocytes are not fully mature.