New species of avian Hepatozoon (Apicomplexa: Haemogregarinidae) and a re-description of Hepatozoon neophrontis (Todd & Wohlbach, 1912) Wenyon, 1926

Seven new species of avian Hepatozoon, H. lanis, H. malacotinus, H. numidis, H. pittae, H. estrildus, H. sylvae and H. zosteropis, respectively, are described from the Laniinae, Malaconotinae, Numidinae, Pittidae, Poephilinae, Sylviinae and Zosteropidae. Hepatozoon adiei Hoare, 1924 is synonymised with Hepatozoon neophrontis (Todd & Wolbach, 1912) Wenyon, 1926 from the Accipitridae and H. neophrontis re-described. Four species of Hepatozoon described by de Beaurepaire Aragao from Brazil are reviewed and Hepatozoon tanagrae (de Beaurepaire Aragao, 1911) Hoare, 1924 is synonymised with H. rhamphocoeli (de Beaurepaire Aragao, 1911) Hoare 1924 and H. brachyspizae (de Beaurepaire Aragao) Hoare, 1924 with H. paroariae (de Beaurepaire Aragao, 1911) Hoare, 1924. Illustrations and measurements for Hepatozoon albatrossi Peirce & Prince, 1980, H. atticorae (de Beaurepaire Aragao, 1911) Hoare, 1924 and H. parus Bennett & Peirce, 1989 are also presented to complete the review of the known avian species. The value of some potential morphological characteristics for distinguishing species of Hepatozoon is discussed.