MICROLAIMIDA, Leduc & Verdon & Zhao, 2018

Leduc, Daniel, Verdon, Valentin & Zhao, Zeng Qi, 2018, Phylogenetic position of the Paramicrolaimidae, description of a new Paramicrolaimus species and erection of a new order to accommodate the Microlaimoidea (Nematoda: Chromadorea), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 183 (1), pp. 52-69 : 64-65

ORDER MICROLAIMIDA ORD. NOV.

( TABLE 3)

Diagnosis: Cuticle striated, annulated or smooth, rarely punctated. Anterior labial sensilla in three separate circles: six inner labial papilla, six outer labial papilla and four cephalic setae. Amphideal fovea circular, cryptocircular, unispiral or multispiral. Cheilostom with cheilorhabdia (not always visible). Buccal cavity usually with more or less pronounced dorsal tooth, smaller subventral teeth also often

Exceptions to character states are given between brackets.

present. Pharynx muscular with weakly or strongly developed posterior bulb. Female reproductive system with one or two ovaries; ovaries are either outstretched or reflexed. Male reproductive system with two opposed testes or single anterior testis.

Remarks: There is no synapomorphy for Microlaimida order nov. This order is created to accommodate the superfamily Microlaimoidea and genus Molgolaimus . These taxa, which were previously classified within Desmodorida , are now considered to form a distinct clade based on molecular phylogenetic analyses and reinterpretation of existing morphological data (see Discussion for detailed justification).