Lice

Phthiraptera

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Hexapoda
Class:'''	Insecta
Subclass:	Pterogota
Infraclass:	Neoptera
Order:	Phthiraptera

Suborders

    Anoplura (sucking lice)
    Rhyncophthirina
    Ischnocera (avian lice)
    Amblycera (chewing lice)

Lice (singular: louse) (order Phthiraptera) are an order of over 3000 species of wingless parasitic insects. They are all obligate ectoparasites of mammals and birds.

The order has traditionally been divided into two suborders; the sucking lice (Anoplura) and chewing lice (Mallophaga), however, recent classifications suggest that the Mallophaga are paraphyletic and four suborders are now recognised:

Anoplura - sucking lice, including head and pubic lice (see also Pediculosis)
Rhyncophthirina - parasites of elephants and warthogs
Ischnocera - avian lice
Amblycera - chewing lice, a primitive order of lice

The picture depicts the chewing louse Damalinia limbata found on Angora goats.