Pthirus gorillae | |
---|---|
![]() | |
A magnified image of Pthirus gorillae | |
Scientific classification
![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Psocodea |
Family: | Pthiridae |
Genus: | Pthirus |
Species: | P. gorillae
|
Binomial name | |
Pthirus gorillae
Ewing, 1927
|
Pthirus gorillae or gorilla louse is a species of parasitic sucking louse that afflicts gorillas. [1] It is found in the African continent, specifically in Rwanda and Democratic Republic of the Congo. [2] P. gorillae and P. pubis (the crab louse) are the only known species that belong to the genus Pthirus, often incorrectly spelled as Phthirus (the Greek word for louse is phthir). [3] It is suggested that it is transmitted among its hosts by social grooming, shared bedding and sexual contact. [4]
All species of sucking lice feed on blood. [5] They live in close association with their hosts and complete their entire life cycle on the host. [1] Pthirus gorillae infests the same parts of the bodies of gorillas as Pthirus pubis does in humans, [6] but since the gorilla is hairier, the lice tend to range over the whole body. [7] The two also resemble each other with the exception that Pthirus gorillae has large eyes that are placed on large lateral protuberances. A short and broad sucking louse, it is about 2.20 mm long with sprawling legs and not more than 20 small abdominal setae. [4]
It was first identified from specimens of mountain gorillas in 1927 by Henry Ellsworth Ewing during a game-hunting trip in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. [4] Molecular phylogenetics suggest that P. gorillae jumped from gorillas to early humans 3.3 million years ago and diverged into the present-day pubic louse. [1] [8] Researchers theorize that humans acquired the parasite while butchering or scavenging on gorilla carcasses, or sleeping in the abandoned sleeping nests of gorillas. [9] [10]
Several lice of the species were found during a necropsy in the stomach of a female gorilla from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park; she had presumably been grooming before she died. [4]
The conservation status of this species is unknown. Since its host species is critically endangered, it is likely that this species is endangered too.
Pthirus gorillae | |
---|---|
![]() | |
A magnified image of Pthirus gorillae | |
Scientific classification
![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Psocodea |
Family: | Pthiridae |
Genus: | Pthirus |
Species: | P. gorillae
|
Binomial name | |
Pthirus gorillae
Ewing, 1927
|
Pthirus gorillae or gorilla louse is a species of parasitic sucking louse that afflicts gorillas. [1] It is found in the African continent, specifically in Rwanda and Democratic Republic of the Congo. [2] P. gorillae and P. pubis (the crab louse) are the only known species that belong to the genus Pthirus, often incorrectly spelled as Phthirus (the Greek word for louse is phthir). [3] It is suggested that it is transmitted among its hosts by social grooming, shared bedding and sexual contact. [4]
All species of sucking lice feed on blood. [5] They live in close association with their hosts and complete their entire life cycle on the host. [1] Pthirus gorillae infests the same parts of the bodies of gorillas as Pthirus pubis does in humans, [6] but since the gorilla is hairier, the lice tend to range over the whole body. [7] The two also resemble each other with the exception that Pthirus gorillae has large eyes that are placed on large lateral protuberances. A short and broad sucking louse, it is about 2.20 mm long with sprawling legs and not more than 20 small abdominal setae. [4]
It was first identified from specimens of mountain gorillas in 1927 by Henry Ellsworth Ewing during a game-hunting trip in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. [4] Molecular phylogenetics suggest that P. gorillae jumped from gorillas to early humans 3.3 million years ago and diverged into the present-day pubic louse. [1] [8] Researchers theorize that humans acquired the parasite while butchering or scavenging on gorilla carcasses, or sleeping in the abandoned sleeping nests of gorillas. [9] [10]
Several lice of the species were found during a necropsy in the stomach of a female gorilla from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park; she had presumably been grooming before she died. [4]
The conservation status of this species is unknown. Since its host species is critically endangered, it is likely that this species is endangered too.