During a survey on pin nematodes in western Iran, two populations of Paratylenchus audriellus and Paratylenchus tenuicaudatus were collected and subsequently analysed morphologically and molecularly. Paratylenchus audriellus is characterised by the long stylet (48-61 μm) and the typical female tail with a characteristic claw-like process with sharply pointed terminus. To our knowledge, the Iranian population of P. tenuicaudatus is the first record from Iran. The molecular characterisation of P. audriellus nematodes using the D2-D3 of 28S rRNA and the partial 18S rRNA gene sequences revealed that this species is clearly separated from P. straeleni and should be considered as a valid taxon.

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Nothotylenchus phoenixae n. sp. is described and illustrated from soil samples of palm trees in Kermanshah Province, western Iran. The new species is characterized by a body length of 784 (663 to 925) mm in females and 677 to 715 mm in males; a delicate stylet 6 (5 to 7) mm long and six lines in the lateral field; median bulb of pharynx fusiform, nonmuscular, and nonvalvate; isthmus elongate, slender ending to a pyriform basal pharyngeal bulb not overlapping intestine; postvulval uterine sac well developed, 15 (14 to 17) mm long, female tail elongate-conoid with pointed terminus; and male with adanal bursa and spicules 21 to 22 mm long (n = 2). The new species comes close in morphology and morphometrics to five known species of the genus, namely N. affinis, N. hexaglyphus, N. persicus, N. taylori, and N. uniformis. Molecular analyses of the partial 18S, D2/D3 expansion segments of the partial 28S and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) revealed this as a new species. The sequences of the partial 18S and 28S D2/D3 regions confirmed the close phylogenetic relationship between N. phoenixae n. sp. and other anguinids, but Nothotylenchus is clearly separated from Ditylenchus species and should be considered as a valid genus.

Ektaphelenchoides maafiae n. sp. was isolated during a survey of nematodes associated with bark samples of an oak tree (Quercus castaneifolia) in Gorgan, Golestan Province, northern Iran. The new species has a body length of 480–546 μm (in females) and 431–480 μm (in males). The cuticle is weakly annulated, with three lateral lines. Lip region offset. The stylet is 13–15 μm long without basal swellings. The excretory pore is located at the level of the metacorpus base to slightly posterior, and hemizonid is at 15–17 μm posterior to the excretory pore. The post‐uterine sac is short, 6–8 μm long. Spicules having rounded condylus, rostrum short, conical with bluntly pointed tip, a cucullus (apophysis) presented on the dorsal distal end. Male tail bearing four (2 + 2) caudal papillae, conical, with sharply pointed terminus. The new species is close to four known species of the genus, including E. hunti, E. ruehmi, E. caspiensis and E. poinari, but differs from them by body size, shape of tail terminus, stylet length, shape and size of spicules, length of post‐vulval uterine sac and number of caudal papillae. Phylogenetic analysis based on small subunit (SSU) and partial large subunit (LSU) sequences of rDNA confirmed its status as a new species.

Paurodontella parapitica n. sp., collected from the rhizosphere of an apple tree in Kermanshah province, western Iran, is described. The new species is characterized by a body length of 505 to 723 mm (females) and 480 to 600 mm (males), lip region continuous by depression; 7 to 8 mm broad, 3 to 4 mm high, stylet length 7 to 9 mm or 1 to 1.3 times the lip region diameter, short postuterine sac of 4 to 6 mm long, lateral fields with five to six incisures; outer incisures crenated and inner incisures weakly crenated, excretory pore situated 90 to 100 mm from anterior end; functional males common in the population, with spicules 24 to 26 mm long. Tail of both sexes similar, almost straight and elongate-conoid. The new species resembles in morphology and morphometrics to four known species of the genus, namely P. apitica, P. minuta, P. myceliophaga, and P. sohailai. The results of phylogenetic analyses based on sequences of D2/D3 expansion region of 28S rRNA gene revealed this genus is polyphyletic in four different clades in Tylenchid.

Aphelenchoidesiranicusn. sp. is described and illustrated from bark samples of an oak tree (Quercussp.) in West Azerbaijan province, north-western Iran. The new species is characterised by body length of 350 (330-383) μm in females and 343 (323-370) μm in males, lip region set off from body contour, lateral fields with three lines, stylet 8 (7-9) μm long with small basal swellings, excretory pore 59 (56-62) μm from anterior end, hemizonid invisible, pharyngeal glands overlapping intestine dorsally and extending for 48 (41-54) μm, female tail subcylindrical with many tiny finger-like appendages at the tip, and male with aphelenchoid type spicules 17.6 (17-18) μm long. The new species comes close to nine known species of the genus namely:A. brevicaudatus,A. cibolensis,A. conimucronatus,A. editocaputis,A. montanus,A. pusillus,A. rarus,A. sphaerocephalusandA. vaughani, but differs from them by the number of incisures in the lateral field, shape of tail mucron, stylet length, size of spicules and length of post-vulval uterine sac. Additionally, this species is characterised molecularly and phylogenetically by sequences of the D2-D3 expansion segments of the 28S and partial 18S rRNA genes that are unique in relation to the sequences deposited in GenBank.

A new species ofPaurodontella,P. persican. sp., collected from the Alborz rangelands of Iran, is described and illustrated. The new species is characterised by its body length of 506 (416-599) μm and 424 (388-461) μm in female and male, respectively, four incisures in lateral field, lip region annulated and continuous with body contour, total stylet 6.2 (5.5-7.0) μm long. Basal pharyngeal bulb with small posterior extension projecting reaching to the intestine. Excretory pore situated at the level of basal pharyngeal bulb region. Post-uterine sac short, 4.5 (3.0-6.0) μm long and uterus with an offset diverticulum. Tail of both sexes similar, conoid pointed, terminus tapering into a long pointed mucron. Male with adanal bursa and spicules 16.5 (16.0-17.0) μm long. The new species comes close in morphology and morphometrics to four known species of the genus, namelyP. auriculata,P. myceliophaga,P. minutaandP. niger. Molecular analyses of the partial small subunit rDNA gene (SSU), D2-D3 expansion segments of the large subunit rDNA gene (LSU) and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) revealed this to be a new species.

Aphelenchoides huntensissp. n. is described and illustrated from wood and bark samples of a dead scots pine in Kermanshah Province, western Iran. The new species has a body length of 507-673 μm (females) and 636-640 μm (males). The cuticle is weakly annulated with four lateral lines. Lip region offset. The stylet is 9.5 (9.0-10.0) μm long with small basal swellings. The excretory pore is locatedcaone body diam. posterior to the metacorpus valve. The spicules are large with the dorsal limb 37 or 38 μm long (n = 2), and have a prominent rostrum and rounded apex. The female tail is conical, the terminus having a complicated step-like projection, usually with many tiny nodular protuberances. The male tail bears six (2 + 2 + 2) caudal papillae and a well-developed mucron. The new species belongs to the Group 2 category ofAphelenchoidesspecies. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 18S and 28S D2-D3 regions of rDNA confirmed its status as a new species.