Progarnia archosauriae
| Progarnia archosauriae | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Clade: | Diaphoretickes |
| Clade: | Sar |
| Clade: | Alveolata |
| Phylum: | Apicomplexa |
| Class: | Aconoidasida |
| Order: | Haemospororida |
| Family: | Garniidae |
| Genus: | Progarnia |
| Species: | P. archosauriae |
| Binomial name | |
| Progarnia archosauriae Lainson, 1995 | |
Progarnia archosauriae is a blood parasite belonging to the phylum Apicomplexa, family Garniidae. It was first described in the spectacled caiman (Caiman crocodilus crocodilus), a member of Archosauria: Crocodilia. The parasite undergoes merogony and gametogony primarily in leukocytes and thrombocytes, occasionally invading erythrocytes without producing malarial pigment. Its characteristics suggest evolutionary links between reptilian and avian haemosporines.