Overview

There are 5 genera in this family; 4 are found on seals and the other on the river otter Lutra canadensis in North America. In Australia lice have been found on the fur seal ( Arctocephalus ), the sea lion ( Neophoca ) and vagrant leopard seals ( Hydrurga ).

Description

Head relatively small; mouth-parts developed into an unjointed more or less pointed beak, or rounded anteriorly, without mandibles. Head without eyes or ocular points. Head and thorax covered with setae, abdomen thickly covered with various setae including scales and spines; on seals.