The [402]5/2 bands in Ta-177 which are ''identical'' to the neighborin
g even-even Hf-176 groundstate band have been extended to higher angul
ar momentum. These bands in the two nuclei are seen to diverge from ea
ch other in the region of the first i13/2 neutron alignment. The lower
observed crossing frequency for the [402]5/2 bands indicates a lower
deformation for these bands compared to Hf-176. Extensions to the h9/2
[541]1/2 yrast band are also reported.