We can see no distinction between Inglis' genera Parapinnanema and Austranema. Both have similar modifications of the lining of the oesophastome, no oesophageal bulb, and a pronounced precloacal modification in the male. The distinction that Parapinnanema has two circles of six and four cephalic setae, whereas Austranema has a single circle of ten cannot be main-. tained, since .4. pectinata (Wieser & Hopper, 1967) and ,4. colesi (Inglis, 1968) both have two circles. Further, the thick battlement-like cuticle over the oesophageal region, considered characteristic of Parapinnanema, is clearly only a matter of degree, since a slight thickening is present in P. harveyi sp. nov. described below and has also been observed in other species. We therefore propose to synonymise these two genera, Parapinnanema being the preferred name.