Abrocomophagidae

Definition

A former family of chewing lice (order Psocodea: suborder Ischnocera) erected to accommodate the genus Abrocomophaga, ectoparasites of chinchilla rats (Abrocoma spp.) in South America. The family was synonymized with Gyropidae in 2000 when additional species were described and phylogenetic reassessment placed Abrocomophaga within that family. The name persists in older literature and taxonomic databases as a historical rank.

Etymology

From Abrocoma (host genus of chinchilla rats, family Abrocomidae) + -phaga (eating, feeding), with family suffix -idae

Example

The louse Abrocomophaga chilensis was originally described as the type species of the monotypic family Abrocomophagidae in 1976, but is now classified in Gyropidae following taxonomic revision.

Related Terms

• Gyropidae
• Ischnocera
• Phthiraptera
• Abrocomophaga
• chewing lice
• Ectoparasite

Usage Notes

Now a synonym; current literature uses Gyropidae. The family was briefly valid (1976–2000) and is encountered in historical parasitological and taxonomic works on South American mammal lice. Not to be confused with the host family Abrocomidae (chinchilla rats).