Family ECHINOPHTHIRIIDAE
Introduction
Worldwide, the family Echinophthiriidae Enderlein, 1904 comprises five genera, four of which parasitise seals. Two genera represented by five species are found on seals in southern Australian waters and the Australian Antarctic Territory. Murray (1976) gave a general account of the lice of seals.
Echinophthiriids are distinguished from other Anoplura by the absence of eyes and the presence of many setae, scales and spines on the head and thorax.
General References
Murray, M.D. 1976. Insect parasites of marine birds and mammals. pp. 79-96 in Cheng, L. (ed.). Marine Insects. Amsterdam : North-Holland Publishing Co