LOOFILAIMUS, A REMARKABLE NEW GENUS OF DORYLAIMIDA FROM IRAN

Loofilaimus, a remarkable new genus of dorylaim nematodes is described from Iran. It is characterized by a continuous lip region with amalga mated lips; sclerotized cheilostome forming a bowl-shaped cavity, odon tostyle short and wide, oesophagus conspicuously muscular along its en tire length, amphidelphic gonads and short hemispheroid tails in both sexes. A new Family Loofilaimidae is proposed under Superfamily Tylenc holaimoidea to accommodate this genus which has a curious mixture of c haracters of different dorylaim groups.