elephant louse
Quick Summary
The elephant louse, Haematomyzus elephantis, is a species of louse belonging to the suborder Rhynchophthirina. These lice are characterized by mouthparts capable of piercing thick skin. The elephant louse is found on African and Indian elephants.1
Lice, in general, are small, wingless parasitic insects. They are divided into two main groups: chewing lice and sucking lice. Sucking lice, like the human louse, feed on blood and tissue fluids. Elephant lice, however, possess modified mandibles at the end of a long proboscis, indicating a specialized feeding mechanism.231
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