DRACONEMATIDAE FILIPJEV, 1918

Leduc, Daniel & Zhao, Zeng, 2016, Phylogenetic relationships within the superfamily Desmodoroidea (Nematoda: Desmodorida), with descriptions of two new and one known species, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society (Zool. J. Linn. Soc.) 176 (3), pp. 511-536 : 517

FAMILY DRACONEMATIDAE FILIPJEV, 1918

Diagnosis (modified from Rho & Min, 2011)

Body short, S-shaped, usually with more or less enlarged pharyngeal and mid-body region. Cuticle annulated except for head capsule and tail terminus, latter often with minute vacuoles. Annules sometimes with spines, minute vacuoles, or a longitudinal lateral field in mid-body region or tail region. Cephalic sensillae in three circles: six inner labial papillae, six outer labial setae, and four cephalic setae. Rostrum present except in Dinetia Decraemer & Gourbault, 1997 . Amphideal fovea spiral to loopshaped, rarely reduced or an internal longitudinal bar. Cephalic adhesion tubes present, located dorsally on cephalic capsule. Somatic setae arranged in eight longitudinal rows. Buccal cavity small to well developed, usually with a dorsal tooth, with or without subventral teeth. Pharynx cylindrical, dumbbellshaped, or with posterior bulb. Secretory–excretory system absent. At least the anterior-most posterior adhesion tubes arranged in four longitudinal rows, two subventrally and two ventrosublaterally, located on posterior third of body. Posterior adhesion tubes with or without differentiated tip, usually straight, rarely long and flexible. Copulatory apparatus with two spicules and trough-shaped gubernaculum. Three caudal glands extending beyond anus/cloaca.