New schistorophine nematodes (Acuraiidae) from New Zealand shore birds

Viktorocara torea and Sciadiocara tarapunga n. spp. are described from specimens from the gizzards of Haematopus ostralegus finschi and Larus novaehollandiae scopulinus respectively. All hosts were collected in the South Island, New Zealand. V. torea is characterised by the possession of doubly bifid apices to the long spicule and absence of a subterminal spicular spur; presence of six preanal papillae, the first and second widely spaced: the muscular region of the oesophagus constituting about one quarter of the total length of the oesophagus. S. tarapunga is similar to S. umbellifera, but differs in having the muscular region of the oesophagus shorter than the glandular region, a more slender body in both sexes, much smaller spicules (78--91 micrometer and 275--359 micrometer) with the right spicule not more than one-third as long as the left one. The long spicule bears a pair of similar, rounded, laterally placed spatulate apices. It is suggested that Sciadiocara umbellifera of previous authors may encompass more than one species.