Anopheles (Anopheles gambiae) mosquito, her abdomen swollen with blood, finishes feeding and pulls out her proboscis. A drop of water can be seen being excreted from the end of the mosquito's abdomen near the end of the shot. The anopheles can be identified by its mouthparts that includ palps that are nearly as long as its proboscis. Palps, which are sensory in function, are the long mouthpart extensions located on either side of the proboscis. This mosquito is the number one vector for malaria in sub-Saharan Africa.