Lacertaemoba is a subgenus of the genus

Genus

In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...

 Plasmodium

Plasmodium

Plasmodium is a genus of parasitic protists. Infection by these organisms is known as malaria. The genus Plasmodium was described in 1885 by Ettore Marchiafava and Angelo Celli. Currently over 200 species of this genus are recognized and new species continue to be described.Of the over 200 known...

- all of which are parasitic protozoa

Protozoa

Protozoa are a diverse group of single-cells eukaryotic organisms, many of which are motile. Throughout history, protozoa have been defined as single-cell protists with animal-like behavior, e.g., movement...

. All species

Species

In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...

 in this subgenus infect reptile

Reptile

Reptiles are members of a class of air-breathing, ectothermic vertebrates which are characterized by laying shelled eggs , and having skin covered in scales and/or scutes. They are tetrapods, either having four limbs or being descended from four-limbed ancestors...

s.

This subgenus was created by Telford to refine the classification of species then given as Plasmodium tropiduri

Plasmodium tropiduri

Plasmodium tropiduri is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Lacertaemoba.Like all Plasmodium species P. tropiduri has both vertebrate and insect hosts...

.

Diagnostic features

Species in the subgenus Lacertaemoba have the following characteristics:

The gametocytes are medium-sized

The schizonts undergo 3 to 5 nuclear divisions and are also medium-sized.