Four new species of the genus Mesodorylaimus Andrássy, 1959 (Nematoda: Dorylaimida) from India

Four new species of soil-inhabiting nematodes belonging to the genus Mesodorylaimus Andrássy, 1959 are described and illustrated from India. Mesodorylaimus khasianus n. sp. is characterized by having body length 1.05–1.14 mm in females and 0.94–1.09 mm in males; lip region offset by a slight constriction; odontostyle 10–12 µm long; pharyngeal expansion gradual; transverse vulva; presence of an additional pair of sclerotized pieces at vagina; tail long with rounded terminus; and males with simple dorylaimoid spicules 32–34 µ m long, and seven to eleven regularly spaced ventromedian supplements. Mesodorylaimus noreasus n. sp. is characterized by having body length 1.65–1.74 mm in females and 1.42–1.61 mm in males; lip region truncate, offset by slight depression; odontostyle 14–16 µm long; pharyngeal expansion gradual; transverse vulva, elongate attenuated tail with rounded terminus and males with simple dorylaimoid spicules 42–43 µm long, nine regularly spaced ventromedian supplements and short conoid tail with rounded terminus. Mesodorylaimus spicatus n. sp. is characterized by having body length 0.81–1.14 mm in females and 0.86–1.1 mm in males; lip region offset by slight depression; odontostyle 10.0–12.5 µm long; pharyngeal expansion gradual; transverse vulva, small spicate tail with rounded terminus and males with simple dorylaimoid spicules 28–33 µm long, seven to nine regularly spaced ventromedian supplements and short conoid tail with rounded terminus. Mesodorylaimus bomdillaensis n. sp. is characterized by having body length 0.73–0.81 mm; lip region offset by slight depression; “double” guiding ring; odontostyle 10 µm long; pharyngeal expansion gradual; transverse vulva; thin, long tongue-like structure at intestine-prerectum junction and tail long filiform with pointed terminus.