The Family Haemoproteidae is a group of parasitic protozoans that infect birds and reptiles. They are also known as avian haemoproteids or haemosporidians.
Haemoproteids are closely related to Plasmodium, which causes malaria in humans. The family consists of several genera, including Haemoproteus, Parahaemoproteus, and Prohemoproteus.
Synonyms for this family include "avian malaria parasites," "avian haemosporidia," and "avian blood parasites." They are often referred to as blood parasites because they live in the blood cells of their hosts and feed on their haemoglobin.
These parasites can cause severe disease in birds, including anemia, weakness, and even death. Understanding the diversity and distribution of these parasites is important for managing and conserving bird populations.