''Fallisia'' is a genus of the family

Plasmodiidae The Plasmodiidae are a family (biology), family of apicomplexan parasites, including the type genus ''Plasmodium'', which is responsible for malaria. This family was erected in 1903 by Mesnil and is one of the four families in the Order (biology) ...

'' The genus was created by Lainson, Landau and Shaw in 1974. A revision of the genus ''Plasmodium'' by Levine in 1985 considered this subgenus to be a synonym of ''Plasmodium''. The description of a new species ''Plasmodium siamense'' by Telford in 1986 lead to a resurrection of this as a subgenus. Further revision of its taxonomic status has led to its elevation to genus status.

Species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

in this genus infect

bird Birds are a group of warm-blooded vertebrates constituting the class Aves (), characterised by feathers, toothless beaked jaws, the laying of hard-shelled eggs, a high metabolic rate, a four-chambered heart, and a strong yet lightweigh ...

s and

lizard Lizards are a widespread group of squamate reptiles, with over 7,000 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica, as well as most oceanic island chains. The group is paraphyletic since it excludes the snakes and Amphisbaenia alt ...

Diagnostic features

Species in this genus have the following characteristics: The schizonts and

gametocyte A gametocyte is a eukaryotic germ cell that divides by mitosis into other gametocytes or by meiosis into gametids during gametogenesis. Male gametocytes are called ''spermatocytes'', and female gametocytes are called ''oocytes''. Development ...

s are found in the circulating

leukocyte White blood cells, also called leukocytes or leucocytes, are the cells of the immune system that are involved in protecting the body against both infectious disease and foreign invaders. All white blood cells are produced and derived from mult ...

s and thromobcytes. Pigment is absent.

Subgenera

There are two recognised subgena - ''Fallisia'' Telford 1998 and '' Plasmodiodes'' Gabaldon, Ulloa & Zerpa 1985. Species in ''Fallisia'' infect lizards and those in ''Plasmodiodes'' infect birds. Until confirmed by molecular methods this classification should be regarded as tentative.

Host distribution

These species infect lizards of the Iguanidae and Teiidae. They may also infect the Scincidae.

Distribution

These parasites are found in the Neotropical area.

References

Apicomplexa genera Haemosporida {{Apicomplexa-stub