Morphological Glossary
Definitions of key terms used in Anopheles identification.
Afrotropical Region
The part of Africa south of the Sahara where the mosquito species in this key are found.
Complex
A group of species that are morphologically very similar or nearly identical (especially in adult form), making them hard or impossible to distinguish reliably by morphology alone. Example: Anopheles gambiae complex.
Costa
The leading edge (front margin) of the mosquito wing; used in descriptions of wing patterning (e.g. presence or absence of pale spots on costa).
Couplet
A single step in a dichotomous key: two contrasting choices (e.g. "wing dark" vs "wing with pale spots") that lead you down different branches toward species identification.
Dichotomous Key
A structured tool that guides the user through a series of binary choices (two alternatives at each step) based on morphological traits; by following the choices you eventually identify the species.
Hindtarsus / Hindtarsomere
The hind-leg tarsus (foot) of the mosquito; "hindtarsomere" refers to a segment of that tarsus. The key often references coloration (pale vs dark) of hindtarsomeres for identification.
Maxillary Palpus
A sensory appendage (part of the mouthparts) on mosquitoes; the number and arrangement of pale/dark bands on the palpus is used as a diagnostic trait in the key.
Morphological Identification
Identifying a species based on visible physical traits (shape, color, structure) rather than genetic or molecular methods.
New Species (since 1987)
Since the older key (from 1987) by earlier authors, many new anopheline species have been described. The 2020 revision incorporates these newly described species into the identification key.
Speckled Legs
A descriptive term meaning that the legs (often tibiae or tarsi) have a pattern of pale and dark scales/spots ("speckling"). Used as a key trait in identification couplets.
Subspecies
A taxonomic rank below species. In this key, subspecies have been excluded; only full species are considered.
Wing Venation
The pattern and naming of veins in the mosquito wing; used to refer to features like "costa", "vein 1", "wing spots" — important morphological markers in the key.