Gyropidae

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Gyropidae (order Phthiraptera, suborder Amblycera) Family of chewing lice, which occur in S. America, where they are parasitic on caviomorph rodents. Unlike most other mammal-infesting lice, which hold the host's hair between the tarsal claw and the apex of the tibia, Gyropidae clasp the hair between the tarsus and the side of the tibia or between the side of the tibia and the side of the femur. The surfaces of the leg contacting the hair are ridged to provide greater purchase, a feature that distinguishes Gyropidae from other lice. There are eight genera, with 61 species.

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