Classification

Scientific name = Pediculus humanus
Common name = Human Lice
The origin of this species name was derived by Linnaeus in 1785.
 
Domain - Eukarya
            Kingdom - Animalia
                        Phylum - Arthropoda
                                    Class - Insecta
                                                Order - Phthiraptera
                                                            Family - Pediculidae
                                                                        Genus - Pediculus
                                                                                    Species – Pediculus humanus
 
Domain - Eukarya
There are three monophyletic domains recognized: Eukarya, Bacteria, and Archaea. The domain Eukarya consists of organisms whose cells contain a membrane-bound nucleus (Hickman et al. 2009).
 
Kingdom – Animalia
This kingdom is also referred to as metazoan. Metazoans are multicellular animals that are heterotrophic. The characteristic that distinguish kingdom Animalia and Plantae are the cell walls present in kindom Plantae, but lacking in kingdom Animalia. The simplest metazoans demonstrate a cellular (level) grade of organization which are not strongly associated to perform a collective function, and more complex demonstrate a cell-tissue grade which consist of cells that work closely together to function as a unit. When many tissues work together, they function as at the tissue-organ system level, which is level of organization of the majority of metazoans (Hickman et al. 2009).
 
Phylum – Arthropoda
This phylum is a very diverse group includes more species that any other phylum combined. The arthropods are the most successful organisms on this Earth. The reason for this is because of their flexible chitinous exoskeleton that consists of an inner think procuticle and an outer thin epitcuticle used for protection and support. The arthropods undergo ecdysis which means they shed or molt the exoskeleton on average four to seven times during their life span as a means of growing. Arthropods display bilateral symmetry. They have paired, jointed appendages and a metameric body of segments fused together called tagmata. The tagma is broken into parts, the head, trunk, thorax, and abdomen. They have well developed sense organs. This group is tripoblasic which means three germ layers including endoderm, ectoderm, and mesoderm. They display a reduced true coelomate and a true digestive system consisting of both a mouth and anus. The circulatory system is open and contains a dorsal heart, arteries and sinuses that make up the hemocoel (Animal Diversity Web 2010). Respiration takes place through the body surface or by other structures such as gills, tracheae, or book lungs. Most arthropods are dioecious, having male and female organs in separate individuals, and reproduce by internal fertilization (Hickman et al. 2009).
 
Class – Insecta
This is the largest most diverse class in the Phylum Arthropoda. Insects have three pair of legs and most times have two pair of wings. This group is largely successful that can be found in just about all types of habitats because of their wings, tiny size and adaptable nature. The body of an insect is composed of three tagmata including the head, thorax, and abdomen. The digestive tract is complete and complex. Insects are dioecious that undergo internal fertilization (Hickman et al. 2009). They grow by the process of ecdyisis which means they shed their exoskeleton. They have many sensory organs such as compound eyes. The tracheal system provides gas exchange without using pigments that transmit oxygen. Most insects transform or “metamorphosis” from egg, larva, pupa, to adult, and each stage looks distinctly different from one another.  
 
Order – Phthiraptera
Order Pthiraptera is commonly known as lice. Lice are very small, flattened, wingless ectoparasites that will cling to a vertebrate host and live there the entirety of its life cycle (Marshall 2006). The term ectoparasite refers to a parasite that lives on the outside of the host. There are two types of lice in Order Phthirapters, sucking lice and chewing lice.
 
Family – Pediculidae
This is the family of the first type of lice previously mentioned, sucking lice. The sucking lice are parasitic on some primates in which humans are included.
 
Genus - Pediculus
Pediculus is a genus that contains four species. Two of these are parasitic on humans, Pediculus humanus humanus and Pediculus humanus capitis. One is a parasite of the chimpanzee, and one is a parasite to spider monkeys.
 
Species – Pediculus humanus
This species, Pediculus humanus, is the scientific name for human lice and can ultimately live anywhere humans live. They reside on the human body or the clothes of humans.  Pediculus humanus is a small insect with a large abdomen. Sharp claws are used for holding on to the host.  Their life cycle consists of eggs or “nits”, young lice or “red backs”, initial ingestion of red blood, and “grey backs”, after digestion takes place (Animal Diversity Web 2010).

 

 

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