Pthirus gorillae or
gorilla louse is a species of
parasitic sucking louse that afflicts
gorillas. It is found in the African continent, specifically in Rwanda and Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Pthirus gorillae and
Pthirus pubis (the
crab louse) are the only known species that belong to the
genus Pthirus, often incorrectly spelled as
Phthirus (the Latin for louse is
phthir). It is suggested that it is transmitted among its
hosts by
social grooming, shared bedding and
sexual contact.