''Pthirus'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...

of lice. There are only two extant species, and they are the sole known members of the

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

Pthiridae. '' Pthirus gorillae'' infests

gorilla Gorillas are herbivorous, predominantly ground-dwelling great apes that inhabit the tropical forests of equatorial Africa. The genus ''Gorilla'' is divided into two species: the eastern gorilla and the western gorilla, and either four or fi ...

s, and '' Pthirus pubis'' afflicts humans, and is commonly known as the crab louse or

pubic In vertebrates, the pubic region ( la, pubis) is the most forward-facing (ventral and anterior) of the three main regions making up the coxal bone. The left and right pubic regions are each made up of three sections, a superior ramus, inferior r ...

louse. The two species diverged some 3.3 million years ago. Since 1958 the generic name ''Pthirus'' has been spelled with ''pth'' rather than ''phth'', despite this being based on a misspelling of the Greek-derived ''phthirus''.

References

External links

* Lice Parasitic arthropods of mammals Parasitic infestations, stings, and bites of the skin {{louse-stub