plasmodium auffenbergi plasmodium auffenbergi plasmodium auffenbergi is a parasite of the genus plasmodium subgenus carinamoeba. plasmodium auffenbergi scientific classification domain: eukaryota clade: diaphoretickes clade: tsar clade: sar clade: alveolata phylum: apicomplexa class: aconoidasida order: haemospororida family: plasmodiidae genus: plasmodium species: p. auffenbergi binomial name plasmodium auffenbergitelford, 2016 like all plasmodium species p. auffenbergi has both vertebrate and insect hosts. the vertebrate hosts for this parasite are reptiles. taxonomy the parasite was first described by telford in 2016 the meronts are cruciform or fan shaped. they measure 3.0 x 2.2 microns. they produce 2-5 merozoites. the gametocytes are spherical to ovoid and measure 4.7 x 3.9 microns. male and female gametocytes do not differ in size or morphology. distribution this species is found in the philippines. hosts this species infects the peacock monitor (varanus auffenbergi). this lizard is also known as auffenberg's monitor.