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[Plasmodium falciparum] [Plasmodium knowlesi] [Plasmodium malariae] [Plasmodium ovale] [Plasmodium vivax]

Malaria is transmitted by mosquitoes in the genus Anopheles.  These mosquitoes are not only vectors of malaria, but also serve as the definitive host for Plasmodium spp., as the sexual stages of the parasite take place in the mosquito.  Different species and species complexes of Anopheles transmit malaria in different parts of the world.  However, of the over 200 species of Anopheles in the world, less than half are vectors of human malaria.  Anopheline mosquitoes can be separated by other genera by possessing palps that extend the same length as the proboscis.  Also, many anopheline mosquitoes assume a "head-stand" position when taking a blood meal from the mammalian host.

A	B

A, B: Adults of A. freeborni.

C	D

C: Adult of A. quadrimaculatus.
D: Close-up of the head of Anopheles sp., showing the length of the palps (red arrow) in relation to the proboscis (blue arrow).