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Summary A population of Macrolaimus arboreus was collected from the rhizosphere of pine in Iran. This population of M. arboreus is characterised by the body length, 800-1010 μm in females, lip region with six seta-like papillae directed anteriad, stoma nearly as long as wide (9-11 × 7 μm), with cheilostom slightly longer than gymnostom and cheilorhabdia and gymnorhabdia well-developed, pharyngeal corpus 1.8-2.0 times the isthmus length, with slightly swollen metacorpus, excretory pore located at isthmus level, female reproductive system monodelphic-prodelphic reflexed with short post-vulval uterine sac, female tail conical (57-67 μm, c = 13.7-15.0, c′ = 3.5-3.8), ending in an acute tip which is weakly curved dorsad, and phasmids at 54-60% of tail length. Measurements and illustrations, including SEM, are provided.

Iberian material of Macrolaimus crucis, the type species of its genus, is described and illustrated based on light micropscope and scanning electron microscope observations. It is characterized by its body length, 654–863 μm in females and 654–767 μm in males; labial sensilla six conical setae forward directed; stoma nearly as long as wide (9–13 × 6–11 μm), with cheilostome slightly longer than gymnostome and cheilorhabdia and gymnorhabdia well developed; pharyngeal corpus 1.6–2.4 times isthmus length, with slightly swollen metacorpus; excretory pore located at isthmus level; female reproductive system prodelphic, lacking postvulval uterine sac; tail of both sexes conical (46–61 μm, c = 13.1–15.1, c′ = 3.1–4.0 in females, 38–48 μm, c = 14.6–17.2, c′ = 2.0–2.6 in males), ending in an acute and weakly bent dorsad tip, and phasmids at 60–70% of tail length; spicules 26–38 μm long; and gubernaculum 10–13 μm long. Iberian material is compared with type material and other known populations. The taxonomy of the ...

Two new species of Tachygonetria, T. africana n. sp. and T. pretoriensis n. sp. are described. Both are parasites of Geochelone pardalis (Bell) from South Africa. In addition, two subspecies, T. longicollis fitzsimmonsi Petter, 1966 and T. macrolaimus macrolaimus (Linstow, 1899), also parasites of Geochelone pardalis (from Pretoria Zoo, South Africa), are redescribed and new information on their morphology is presented. On the basis of their morphology, these subspecies are raised to full specific level.

Specimens of Macrolaimus richteri spec. nov. were examined with the aid of a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and some hitherto undescribed features of Macrolaimus were discovered. The sense organs are arranged in an inner circlet of six huge outer labial setae, a second circlet of four small cephalic setae and two pore-like amphid apertures in the first annule posterior to the head. The stomatal opening is surrounded by six flap-like lips covering the peculiar triangular cheilorhabdions which seem to be protmsible. The prominent anterior lip of the vulval opening is ornamented with about ten horizontal grooves. Distinctive characters ofM. richteri spec. nov. are the strongly annulated cuticle, slightly dorsad curved tail terminus and the length of the cheilorhabdions (1,6-1,8 times prorhabdion length).

Macrolaimus canadensis n. sp., collected from the frass of Phloeosinus canadensis Swaine, 1917, infesting a log of eastern white cedar from Lac Tremblant, Quebec, is described and figured. The new species differs from other members of the genus in having a small, thornlike ventral spine on the spicules and in having comparatively stouter cheilorhabdions.M. aculeatus (Daday, 1905) Thorne, 1937, and M. citri Rahm, 1928, are regarded as species inquirendae. Ruehm's synonymy of M. hamatus Thorne, 1937, and M. crucis of Fuchs, 1938, with M. crucis Maupas, 1900, is not accepted. The systematic positions of M. crucis of Ruehm, 1956, and M. crucis of Fuchs, 1938, are briefly discussed. M. maupasi Hnatewytsch, 1929, is transferred from Macrolaimus Maupas, 1900, to Myolaimus Cobb, 1920.

Diastolaimus papillatus Rahm, 1928, is removed from synonymy with Macrolaimus papillatus (Rahm, 1928) Goodey, 1951, and transferred to the genus Chambersiella Cobb, 1920. The diagnoses of the family Chambersiellidae (Thorne, 1937) Sanwal, 1957, and the genus Chambersiella are emended to include forms with simple hairlike cephalic setae and postvulvar uterine branch. A key to species of the genus Chambersiella is given.

Chambersiella bakeri is transferred to a new genus, Geraldius. Diagnoses of the genus Chambersiella and family Chambersiellidae are emended. Subfamily Chambersiellinae is reinstated to include the genera Chambersiella, Geraldius, Diastolaimus, and Santafea, and a new subfamily Macrolaiminae is established for the species of Macrolaimus. A key to the subfamilies and genera of Chambersiellidae, based on the presence or absence of cephalic cirri, shape and structure of stomatorhabdions, and the number of female gonads, is given.