Two new species ofOdilia (Nematoda: Heligmonellidae) from Australian rodents, with comments onO. bainae Beveridge & Durette-Desset, 1992

Abstract

Odilia tasmaniensis n. sp.,O. praeputialis n. sp. andO. bainae Beveridge & Durette-Desset, 1992 from the small intestine of Australian murids are described and illustrated. The two new species are distinguished from the other eight species in the genus, namelyO. mackerrasae (Mawson, 1961),O. brachybursa (Mawson, 1961),O. emanuelae (Mawson, 1961),O. melomyos (Mawson, 1961),O. polyrhabdote (Mawson, 1961),O. uromyos (Mawson, 1961),O. mawsonae (Durette-Desset, 1969) andO. bainae Beveridge & Durette-Desset, 1992.O. tasmaniensis n. sp. fromRattus lutreolus is characterised by the longitudinal cuticular ridges being continuous, the presence of 18 ridges in cross-section in the middle region of the body, the joined distal ends of the spicules forming a curved bluntly rounded tip, a short genital cone with a single ventral papilla and a pair of laterally curving dorsal raylets and the posterior end of the female tapering sharply.O. praeputialis n. sp. fromZyzomys woodwardi is characterised by continuous longitudinal cuticular ridges, the presence of 22–35 ridges in cross-section in the middle of the body, the sharply pointed joined distal tips of the spicules, a complex genital cone with a flat membraneous proconus, a ventral papilla projecting from an extension of the body wall, a pair of short straight dorsal raylets and the presence of a praepuce on the posterior end of the female.O. bainae is characterised by the longitudinal cuticular ridges being continuous, the presence of 17–22 ridges in cross-section in the middle region of the body, the joined distal ends of the spicules surrounded in an oval transparent cap, a long genital cone with a single ventral papilla and a pair of laterally curving dorsal raylets, and the absence of a praepuce on the posterior end of the female.Rattus lutreolus and the pseudomyine rodentsPseudomys higginsi andMastacomys fuscus are new host records for this species.