Genus Phthirus (Noun)
Meaning
True lice: crab lice.
Classification
Nouns denoting animals.
Examples
- The genus Phthirus includes true lice that infest humans and other primates, particularly the crab louse Phthirus pubis.
- Phthirus is a genus of lice that comprises only two species, the human pubic louse Phthirus pubis and the gorilla louse Phthirus gorillae.
- The crab louse, also known as Phthirus pubis, is a species of lice that primarily infests humans and causes intense itching in the genital area.
- In the genus Phthirus, the two recognized species of lice exhibit a similar morphology but have distinct differences in their preferred hosts.
- The genus Phthirus has a distinct evolutionary history, with Phthirus pubis diverging from its common ancestor with the gorilla louse around 3-6 million years ago.