Haematomyzus

Haematomyzus is a monotypic genus of lice with 3 species. The genus is placed in its own family Haematomyzidae, itself monotypic within the parvorder Rhynchophthirina (previously ranked as a superfamily). These unusual lice are ectoparasites of elephants and warthogs. Their mouthparts are elongated to form a drill-like structure that allows them to penetrate the thick skin of their host.

==Taxonomy== The three species, Haematomyzus elephantis (elephant louse), Haematomyzus hopkinsi (warthog louse) and Haematomyzus porci (red river hog louse) belong to a single family, the Haematomyzidae, itself the only family within Rhynchophthirina. Rhychophthirina is a parvorder within the infraorder Phthiraptera. A molecular phylogenetic study using subunit rRNA sequences suggests a placement of the Rhychophthirina as a sister group of the Anoplura.