2 NEW SPECIES OF ODILIA (NEMATODA, HELIGMONELLIDAE) FROM AUSTRALIAN RODENTS, WITH COMMENTS ON O-BAINAE BEVERIDGE AND DURETTEDESSET, 1992

Odilia tasmaniensis n. sp., O. praeputialis n. sp. and O. bainae Bever idge & Durette-Desset, 1992 from the small intestine of Australian mur ids are described and illustrated. The two new species are distinguish ed from the other eight species in the genus, namely O. mackerrasae (M awson, 1961), O. brachybursa (Mawson, 1961), O. emanuelae (Mawson, 196 1), O. melomyos (Mawson, 1961), O. polyrhabdote (Mawson, 1961), O. uro myos (Mawson, 1961), O. mawsonae (Durette-Desset, 1969) and O. bainae Beveridge and Durette-Desset, 1992. O. tasmaniensis n. sp. from Rattus 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 c urved bluntly rounded tip, a short genital cone with a single ventral papilla and a pair of laterally curving dorsal raylets and the posteri or end of the female tapering sharply. O. praeputialis n. sp. from Zyz omys woodwardi is characterised by continuous longitudinal cuticular r idges, 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 co mplex genital cone with a flat membraneous proconus, a ventral papilla projecting from an extension of the body wall, a pair of short straig ht dorsal raylets and the presence of a praepuce on the posterior end of the female. O. bainae is characterised by the longitudinal cuticula r ridges being continuous, the presence of 17-22 ridges in cross-secti on in the middle region of the body, the joined distal ends of the spi cules surrounded in an oval transparent cap, a long genital cone with a single ventral papilla and a pair of laterally curving dorsal raylet s, and the absence of a praepuce on the posterior end of the female. R attus lutreolus and the pseudomyine rodents Pseudomys higginsi and Mas tacomys fuscus are new host records for this species.