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Anopheles facts for kids

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Anopheles
Anopheles stephensi.jpeg
Anopheles stephensi
Scientific classification e
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Culicidae
Subfamily: Anophelinae
Genus: Anopheles
Meigen 1818
Species

For a full description, see section Systematics and the main article: Taxonomy of Anopheles
Some important species are:

  • A. albimanus
  • A. arabiensis
  • A. barberi
  • A. bellator
  • A. crucians
  • A. cruzii
  • A. culicifacies
  • A. darlingi
  • A. dirus
  • A. earlei
  • A. freeborni
  • A. funestus
  • A. gambiae (Giles 1902)
  • A. introlatus
  • A. latens
  • A. maculipennis
  • A. moucheti
  • A. nili
  • A. punctipennis
  • A. quadrimaculatus
  • A. stephensi
  • A. subpictus
  • A. sundaicus
  • A. walkeri
Anopheles-range-map.png
Anopheles range map

Anopheles is a genus of mosquito.

There about 460 species, and over 100 can transmit human malaria. Only 30–40 commonly transmit parasites of the genus Plasmodium, which causes human malaria in endemic areas. Anopheles gambiae is one of the best known, because it transmits the most dangerous malarial parasite species (to humans) – Plasmodium falciparum.

Some species of Anopheles are vectors for canine heartworm Dirofilaria immitis, filariasis, and viruses such as one that causes O'nyong'nyong fever. Brain tumors sometimes occur in malaria sufferers, which suggests that Anopheles might transmit a virus or other agent which could cause a brain tumor.

Mosquitoes in other genera (Aedes, Culex, Culiseta, Haemagogus and Ochlerotatus) can also be vectors of disease agents, but not malaria.

Related pages

Images for kids

  • Anopheles egg 2

    Anopheles egg

  • Anopheles larve

    Anopheles larva from southern Germany, about 8 mm long

  • Anopheles Culex larvae feeding position-USDA

    Feeding position of an Anopheles larva (A), compared to that of a nonanopheline mosquito (B)

  • Anopheles Culex adult resting position-USDA

    Resting positions of adult Anopheles (A, B), compared to a nonanopheline mosquito (C)

  • Anopheles female Turkhud

    Key to the morphology of female Anopheles

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Anopheles para niños

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Anopheles Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.