An entomological team surveys a coastal district of Kerala for malaria vectors and finds anopheline larvae in brackish water pools near mangrove swamps. Which primary malaria vector of India is adapted to breed in such brackish coastal waters?
- A Anopheles culicifacies
- B Anopheles fluviatilis
- C Anopheles sundaicus ✓
- D Anopheles minimus
Correct answer: C. Anopheles sundaicus
Explanation
The six primary malaria vectors in India are Anopheles culicifacies, stephensi, fluviatilis, minimus, dirus and sundaicus. Anopheles sundaicus is characteristically a brackish-water breeder found in coastal areas, matching the survey finding. Culicifacies is a rural freshwater breeder, fluviatilis breeds in slow-flowing foothill streams, and minimus prefers shaded hill streams, so none of these fits brackish mangrove habitats.
Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 26th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
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