Philopteridae
Encyclopedia
The Philopteridae are a family
of Ischnocera
, chewing lice mostly parasitic on birds.
The taxonomy
and systematics
of the group are in need of revision; the Philopteridae are almost certainly paraphyletic.
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
of Ischnocera
Ischnocera
The Ischnocera is a large suborder of lice mostly parasitic on birds but including a large family parasitic on mammals. The genus Trichophilopterus is also found on mammals but probably belongs to the "avian Ischnocera" and represents a host switch from birds to mammals...
, chewing lice mostly parasitic on birds.
The taxonomy
Taxonomy
Taxonomy is the science of identifying and naming species, and arranging them into a classification. The field of taxonomy, sometimes referred to as "biological taxonomy", revolves around the description and use of taxonomic units, known as taxa...
and systematics
Systematics
Biological systematics is the study of the diversification of terrestrial life, both past and present, and the relationships among living things through time. Relationships are visualized as evolutionary trees...
of the group are in need of revision; the Philopteridae are almost certainly paraphyletic.
Selected genera
Some notable species are also listed.- Acutifrons
- Austrophilopterus
- BrueeliaBrueeliaBrueelia is a genus of lice in the family Philopteridae, containing the following species:* Brueelia amandavae Rekasi & Saxena, 2005* Brueelia astrildae Tendeiro & Mendes, 1994* Bureelia cantans Sychra, 2010...
- Campanulotes
- Columbicola
- Degeeriella
- Docophorulus
- Formicaphagus
- Formicaricola
- Halipeurus
- Nyctibicola
- Penenirmus
- Philopterus
- Rallicola Johnston & Harrison, 1911
- Rallicola extinctusRallicola extinctusRallicola extinctus is an extinct species of phtilopterid louse. This parasite was only known to live on the now extinct Huia and is thought to have become extinct with its host. It was initially placed in its own separate genus, Huiacola, which means "Huia inhabitant". It was endemic to New...
- Rallicola extinctus
- Saemundssonia
- Strigiphilus
- Strigiphilus garylarsoniStrigiphilus garylarsoniStrigiphilus garylarsoni is a biting louse of a genus only found on owls. It is a member of the traditional suborder Mallophaga . The species is classified in the Ischnocera suborder and the Philopteridae family. The species has no common name.The louse's taxonomer, biologist Dale H...
- Strigiphilus garylarsoni