Researchers have donated several hundred parasitic worm specimens to the Otago Museum, many of them from the Dunedin Wildlife Hospital.
The preserved specimens, from more than 60 known species of parasites, were given by members of the University of Otago evolutionary and ecological parasitology group, led by Robert Poulin.
Over the past year, Bronwen Presswell, a researcher at the group, has worked with Jerusha Bennett, previously a masters student with the group, to collect and curate parasites from more than 200 birds.
Many of these birds, which had earlier died, were provided by the wildlife hospital.
Museum research officer and parasitologist Anusha Beer said that, among the ''fascinating species'' provided, was ''a fluke that lives under the eyelid of a gull and sheds its eggs in the tears of the bird''.
''There is a 10cm-long hairworm that invades its insect host and compels it to commit suicide by drowning itself, and a tapeworm so large that it can exceed the weight of its fish host,'' she said.
Ms Beer said the donations reflected strong relationships with the Otago parasitology laboratory, and Dr Presswell's recent appointment as an honorary curator at the museum.
Parasites formed a big part of the region's biodiversity and ''we cannot afford to overlook them''.
The museum held a significant collection of parasitic worms and she was ''excited'' by the gift.
