LiceThe Living Fossils

Vincent S. Smith

Major Groups of Lice

Evolution

Co-Evolution

Primate Lice

Human Lice

Primate Lice

Primates

?

?

Co-evolutionTime

8.8 My

5.4 My

1.2 My

Age (millionyears ago)

0

1.0

2.0

AfricaEurope Asia Americas

Recent Human Evolution

Co-evolution

“Archaic” and modern humans made contact

Fossil Lice

Age of Lice

Time

?

Age of Lice

Now110 My

Co-evolution

Questions?