3 TERATOCEPHALID NEMATODES FROM IRAN

Three teratocephalid species, viz. Teratocephalus lirellus, Euteratoce phalus palustris, and Metaterarocephalus crassidens were found in the rhizosphere of wild and cultivated plants in the Province of Hamadan i n the West of Iran. Two Iranian populations of T. lirellus were compar ed with a Belgian population of the same species, kept in culture. Lig ht and scanning electron microscopy of these species provided some int eresting new information. SEM photos of ruptured cuticle of E. palustr is revealed intra-cuticular structures which were somewhat flower-shap ed and resembled those found in Achromadora micoletzkyi and A. semiarm ata. Euteratocephalus spiraolides is synonymized with E. palustris. Th ese species are recorded for the first time from Iran.