A genus of parasitic protozoa that infect the blood of birds and other vertebrates.
From Greek haima (blood) + proteus (name of a shape-shifting sea god), referring to the organism's variable forms. Named in 19th-century parasitology following Linnaeus's tradition of mythological names.
Haemoproteus parasites were named after the Greek god Proteus because they seem to change shape—this actually helped scientists realize that parasites have complex life cycles with different forms in different hosts.
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