Steller sea lion
The filarial worm "Acanthocheilonema odendhali" was first discovered in 1967 from the California California sea lion "Zalophus californianus". This species was found inhabiting the intermuscular fascia and thoracic and the abdominal cavities. Initially this species was described in the "Dipetalonema" genus as "Dipetalonema odendhali", however due to later evidences it was transferred to the genus "Acanthocheilonema". "A. odendhali" was subsequently found in other marine species like Steller sea lion ("Eumetopias jubatus") and northern fur seal ("Callorhinus ursinus"). Besides the "A. odendhali", other filarioidean species such as "A. spirocauda", commonly known as heart-worm has also been identified as parasitic in phocids.