Description of Criconema iranicum n. sp. (Nematoda: Criconematidae) from Iran

Criconema iranicum n. sp. was recovered from the rhizospheric soil of date palm in Khuzestan province, southwest Iran, and described and illustrated based upon morphological and morphometric data. The new species is characterized by 435-515 μm long females having a lip region with two annuli, the first labial annulus slightly wider than the second annulus, 76.5-84.0 μm long stylet with anchor-shaped knobs, vulva closed, its anterior lip not curving over the posterior lip, anus small, 5-7 annuli posterior to vulva, 16.4-23.0 μm long conical tail, bearing 3-5 annuli, its terminal annulus simple or bifurcate, R = 61-65, RV = 9-11, juvenile present and males absent. Morphologically, the new species looks similar to four known species under the genus viz. C. annuliferum, C. duplicivestitum, C. navarinoense and C. sanctusfrancisci. Comparisons with the four aforementioned species are discussed. This is the first species of the genus being originally described from Iran.