taxonID	type	description	language	source
E17887870A71B971E0AFFA19D37AFB66.taxon	description	(Figs 1 and 2)	en	Asgari, Mohsen, Álvarez-Ortega, Sergio, Mohammadlou, Mahsa, Eskandari, Ali (2026): Descriptions of two new species of Aporcelinus Andrássy, 2009 (Nematoda: Dorylaimida: Aporcelaimidae) and a new record from Iran. Zootaxa 5845 (2): 264-280, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5845.2.3, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5845.2.3
E17887870A71B971E0AFFA19D37AFB66.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. Forty specimens (20 ♀♀, 20 ♂♂), generally in good state of preservation; a few specimens somewhat flattened.	en	Asgari, Mohsen, Álvarez-Ortega, Sergio, Mohammadlou, Mahsa, Eskandari, Ali (2026): Descriptions of two new species of Aporcelinus Andrássy, 2009 (Nematoda: Dorylaimida: Aporcelaimidae) and a new record from Iran. Zootaxa 5845 (2): 264-280, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5845.2.3, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5845.2.3
E17887870A71B971E0AFFA19D37AFB66.taxon	description	Measurements. See Table 1. Description. Adult. Moderately slender of medium size, 1.3 – 2.0 mm long. Habitus variably curved ventrad after fixation, from open C-, J- or G-shaped. Cuticle smooth, relatively thin, 1.2 – 1.7 μm thick at anterior region, 1.5 – 2.1 μm in midbody and 2.5 – 4.2 μm thick on tail; consisting of two layers which are especially distinct on the tail, inner layer thicker and more refractive than outer. Three cervical pores are usually visible at both dorsal and ventral sides, two at level of odontophore and one of them posterior to odontophore region. Lip region offset by constriction, 2.1 – 3.0 times as broad as high and one-fourth to two-fifths (22 – 35 %) of body diameter at neck base; lips relatively low and moderately separate. Amphid fovea cup-shaped, its aperture 10 – 13 μm or ca half to twothirds (56 – 76 %) of lip region diameter. Odontostyle typical of genus, 6.5 – 8.9 times as long as wide, 1.1 – 1.4 times as long as lip region diameter, and 1.1 – 1.9 % of body length, aperture 9.4 – 11.2 μm long or occupying 45 % of its length. Guiding ring simple, plicate, located at 9.0 – 13.5 μm from anterior end. Odontophore linear, rod-like, 1.6 – 2.2 times the odontostyle length. Anterior region of pharynx muscular, enlarging very gradually, basal expansion 4.9 – 7.5 times as long as wide, 2.6 – 3.9 times as long as body diameter, and occupying 46 – 51 % of total neck length; gland nuclei apparently located as follows: DO = 58 – 60, DN = 62 – 63, S 1 N 1 = 74 – 75, S 1 N 2 = 79 – 80, S 2 N = 90 – 91. Nerve ring located at 130 – 194 μm from anterior end or 34 – 41 % of total neck length. Cardia conical, 20 – 30 × 10 – 20 μm in size, with a weak ring-like structure and a distinct dorsal lobe surrounding its junction with pharyngeal base. A dorsal cell mass / chord is present a short distance behind the pharyngo – intestinal junction. Tail similar in both sexes, conoid, dorsally first convex then concave, with straight or slightly ventrally bent sharp tip. Inner cuticle layer broken in tail tip and a hyaline portion easily perceptible in most specimens, 9 – 12 μm long. Two pairs of caudal pores present, one subdorsal, the other sublateral. Female. Genital system diovarian, with both branches equally and well developed, anterior 189 – 340 μm or 15 – 19 % of body length, and posterior 245 – 470 μm or 16 – 27 % of body length. Ovaries variably sized, often reaching sphincter level, anterior 80 – 165 μm and posterior 88 – 187 μm long, oocytes arranged first in two or more rows, then in a single row. Oviduct 100 – 174 μm long or 1.7 – 1.9 times corresponding body diameter, consisting of slender part made of prismatic cells and well-developed pars dilatata with distinct lumen. Oviduct and uterus separated by a marked sphincter. Uterus 100 – 175 μm long or ca 2.1 times corresponding body diameter, tripartite, that is consisting of a short and wider proximal region, a narrower intermediate section with very narrow lumen, and a nearly spherical large distal part, frequently containing sperm cells. Vagina extending inwards 30 – 39 μm or ca four-ninths to four-sevenths (44 – 56 %) of body diameter, pars proximalis 18 – 27 × 13 – 19 μm in size with somewhat sigmoid walls and surrounded by weak musculature, pars refringens consisting of two drop-shaped or pieces, 5 – 8 × 3 – 4 μm and a combined width of 10 – 15 μm, pars distalis well developed and refractive, 4 – 5 μm long. Vulva a transverse slit. Prerectum 1.7 – 2.4 and rectum 0.8 – 1.3 anal body diameter long. Male. Body similar to females in general morphology. Prerectum 1.6 – 2.3 and cloaca 1.1 – 1.5 times the corresponding body diameter long. Genital system diorchic, with opposed testes. In addition to adcloacal pair, situated at 9 – 12 μm from cloacal aperture, a series of 10 – 13 rather irregularly spaced ventromedian supplements, 14 – 24 μm apart, one or two of them within the range of spicules, posteriormost supplement 28 – 40 μm and anteriormost one 170 – 235 μm from cloacal aperture. Spicules dorylaimoid, relatively robust, somewhat curved ventrad, 3.9 – 4.6 times as long as wide and 1.3 – 1.8 times as long as cloacal body diameter. Curvature 120 – 133 °. Dorsal side regularly convex, ventral one bearing weak hump and hollow. Head 11 – 16 × 8 – 11 μm, its dorsal side longer than ventral, both sides slightly curved, occupying 17 – 25 % of total length; median piece slender, 14 – 18 times as long as wide, occupying less than one-fourth (18 – 23 %) of spicule max. width, reaching posterior tip; posterior end 3.7 – 4.9 μm wide. Lateral guiding pieces 16 – 20 μm long, 5.5 – 7.6 times as long as wide.	en	Asgari, Mohsen, Álvarez-Ortega, Sergio, Mohammadlou, Mahsa, Eskandari, Ali (2026): Descriptions of two new species of Aporcelinus Andrássy, 2009 (Nematoda: Dorylaimida: Aporcelaimidae) and a new record from Iran. Zootaxa 5845 (2): 264-280, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5845.2.3, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5845.2.3
E17887870A71B971E0AFFA19D37AFB66.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Our specimens correspond well to the available descriptions and measurements of the species, which was previously known from Hungary (Andrássy 1991) and Albania (Andrássy 2009 a). Only spicules are slightly longer (61 – 70 vs 57 – 60 and 50 – 54 μm, respectively). It should be noted that the Albanian population studied by Andrássy (2009 a) already exhibited somewhat longer odontostyle (22 – 24 vs 20 – 22 μm) and longer tail (35 – 48 vs 30 – 38 μm) than the type population from Hungary, partially overlapping the Iranian material. In addition, a dorsal cell mass at the pharyngo-intestinal junction was observed in the Iranian population, a feature not mentioned in previous descriptions. These minor differences are not sufficient to justify recognition as a new species and could be attributed to geographical variability. Nevertheless, the observed differences among the Hungarian, Albanian and Iranian populations highlight the need for molecular characterization of additional populations of Aporcelinus infundibulicaudatus. Future integrative studies combining morphological and molecular data will be necessary to clarify whether these differences represent intraspecific geographical variation or indicate the presence of cryptic diversity within the species. The results of this study extend the range of measurement values for this species, and provide, for the first time, additional morphological details of the female genital system. This represents the first record of the species from Iran.	en	Asgari, Mohsen, Álvarez-Ortega, Sergio, Mohammadlou, Mahsa, Eskandari, Ali (2026): Descriptions of two new species of Aporcelinus Andrássy, 2009 (Nematoda: Dorylaimida: Aporcelaimidae) and a new record from Iran. Zootaxa 5845 (2): 264-280, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5845.2.3, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5845.2.3
E17887870A71B971E0AFFA19D37AFB66.taxon	materials_examined	Locality and Habitat. Northern Iran, from mosses growing in a natural area in Saravan Rural District, Sangar District, Rasht County, Gilan Province, Iran. GPS coordinates: 37 ° 01 ' 15.8 " N and 49 ° 36 ' 53.5 " E, elevation 300 m above sea level. Specimens collected on 21 March 2016. Studied material. Fourteen females and fourteen males (slides: GIL 1 – 7), deposited in the Nematode Collection of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran; six females and six males (slides: GIL 8 – 10) deposited in the nematode collection of the Rey Juan Carlos University, Campus de Móstoles, Madrid, Spain.	en	Asgari, Mohsen, Álvarez-Ortega, Sergio, Mohammadlou, Mahsa, Eskandari, Ali (2026): Descriptions of two new species of Aporcelinus Andrássy, 2009 (Nematoda: Dorylaimida: Aporcelaimidae) and a new record from Iran. Zootaxa 5845 (2): 264-280, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5845.2.3, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5845.2.3
E17887870A75B97DE0AFFAA9D4B3F88A.taxon	description	urn: lsid: zoobank. org: act: 820 A 8 B 5 C-F 238 - 446 F-BE 77 - 445 A 93 C 1 E 833 (Figs 3 and 4)	en	Asgari, Mohsen, Álvarez-Ortega, Sergio, Mohammadlou, Mahsa, Eskandari, Ali (2026): Descriptions of two new species of Aporcelinus Andrássy, 2009 (Nematoda: Dorylaimida: Aporcelaimidae) and a new record from Iran. Zootaxa 5845 (2): 264-280, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5845.2.3, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5845.2.3
E17887870A75B97DE0AFFAA9D4B3F88A.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. Nine specimens (8 ♀♀, 1 ♂), generally in good condition of preservation.	en	Asgari, Mohsen, Álvarez-Ortega, Sergio, Mohammadlou, Mahsa, Eskandari, Ali (2026): Descriptions of two new species of Aporcelinus Andrássy, 2009 (Nematoda: Dorylaimida: Aporcelaimidae) and a new record from Iran. Zootaxa 5845 (2): 264-280, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5845.2.3, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5845.2.3
E17887870A75B97DE0AFFAA9D4B3F88A.taxon	description	Measurements. See Table 2. Description. Adult. Moderately slender (a = 20 – 26) nematodes of medium size, 1.85 – 2.10 mm long. Habitus curved ventrad upon fixation, in general, C-shaped. Cuticle two-layered, 2.8 – 3.5 μm thick at anterior region, 3.5 – 4.0 μm in mid-body and 4.0 – 5.0 μm on tail; outer layer thin and bearing fine but conspicuous transverse striation throughout the body; inner layer thicker and more refractive than the outer layer. Lateral chord 15 – 20 μm broad or 19 – 23 % of mid-body diameter. Body pores, if present, obscure. Lip region offset by a distinct constriction, 2.0 – 2.7 times as wide as high and 24 – 27 % of body diameter at neck base; lips moderately separate, with protruding papillae. Amphid fovea funnel-shaped, its opening 10 – 12 μm broad or 59 – 65 % of lip region diameter. Cheilostom nearly cylindrical, with no specialization. Odontostyle strong, 5.5 – 6.2 times as long as wide, 1.2 – 1.4 times as long as lip region diameter, and 1.1 – 1.3 % of body length, aperture 10.5 – 13.2 μm long or occupying 46 – 57 % of its length. Guiding ring simple but distinct, located at 10.0 – 12.5 μm or 0.6 – 0.7 times the lip region diameter from the anterior end. Odontophore rod-like, 1.4 – 1.7 times the odontostyle long. Pharynx consisting of a slender but muscular anterior section enlarging very gradually in the posterior, the expansion 6.0 – 6.8 times as long as wide, 3.3 – 3.9 times the corresponding body diameter and occupies 45 – 50 % of total neck length; gland nuclei in general obscure in the specimens examined: DO = 53 – 57, DN = 56 – 59, S 1 N 1 = 65 – 67, S 1 N 2 = 75 – 78, S 2 N = 87 – 89. Nerve ring at 160 – 175 μm or 30 – 33 % of total neck length from the anterior end. Pharyngo-intestinal junction surrounded by an asymmetrical ring-like structure, with a distinctly developed dorsal lobe; cardia conical, 22 – 30 × 15 – 20 μm; a dorsal cell mass is present at a variable distance behind the pharyngeal base. Female. Genital system diovarian, with both branches equally and well developed, 265 – 325 μm long or 14 – 16 % of body length. Ovaries variably large, 77 – 119 µm long, not always surpassing the oviduct-uterus junction. Oviduct 76 – 129 μm long or 1.0 – 1.7 times corresponding body diameter, and consisting of a slender portion and a small pars dilatata with visible lumen. A narrowing surrounded by weak sphincter separates oviduct and uterus. Uterus apparently a simple tube-like structure 80 – 115 μm long or ca 1.0 – 1.5 times corresponding body diameter. Uterine egg observed in three specimens, 105 – 113 × 47 – 50 μm, typical of the genus as their shell appears visibly irregular or undulate. Vagina extending inwards 48 – 52 μm or 58 – 67 % of body diameter, pars proximalis 18 – 25 × 14 – 18 μm in size with somewhat sigmoid walls and surrounded by weak musculature, pars refringens consisting of two drop-shaped or pieces, 6 – 7 × 4 – 6 μm and a combined width of 10 – 14 μm, pars distalis well developed and refractive, 3 – 4 μm long. Vulva a transverse slit. Prerectum 1.7 – 2.7 and rectum 1.0 – 1.3 anal body diameter long. Tail conical, ventrally nearly straight or slightly concave, dorsally convex, with an inconspicuous dorsal concavity, and finely rounded tip, inner cuticle layer not reaching the tail tip and not merging, leaving a distinct hyaline portion 23 – 28 μm long. Caudal pores in two pairs, situated at approximately mid-tail, one pair subdorsal, other pair lateral. Male. Extremely rare, only a single male specimen was recovered. Genital system diorchic, with opposed testes. Sperm cells ovoid rather than spindle-shaped, 3.0 × 2.0 μm. Prerectum 2.4, cloaca 1.2 times body diameter at level of cloacal aperture. In addition to adcloacal pair, situated at 8 μm from cloacal aperture, a series of 13 rather irregularly spaced ventromedian supplements, 14 – 18 μm apart, one of them within the range of spicules, posteriormost supplement 31 μm and anteriormost one 161 μm from cloacal aperture. Spicules dorylaimoid, relatively robust, somewhat curved ventrad, 5.6 times as long as wide and 1.9 times as long as cloacal body diameter. Head 14 μm long, occupying 19 % of total length, with both its sides nearly equal in length; median piece 14 times as long as wide, occupying 32 % of spicule maximum width, reaching posterior tip; posterior end 5 μm wide, visibly bifid. Ventral hump and hollow weak but perceptible, former located at 44 % of spicule length from anterior end. Curvature 122 °. Lateral guiding pieces 15 μm long, 5 times as long as wide. Tail similar to that of female, but slightly curved ventrad.	en	Asgari, Mohsen, Álvarez-Ortega, Sergio, Mohammadlou, Mahsa, Eskandari, Ali (2026): Descriptions of two new species of Aporcelinus Andrássy, 2009 (Nematoda: Dorylaimida: Aporcelaimidae) and a new record from Iran. Zootaxa 5845 (2): 264-280, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5845.2.3, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5845.2.3
E17887870A75B97DE0AFFAA9D4B3F88A.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. The new species is characterized by its 1.85 – 2.10 mm long body, lip region offset by constriction and 18 – 19 μm broad, odontostyle 22 – 25 μm or 1.2 – 1.4 times the lip region diameter, neck 520 – 577 μm long, pharyngeal expansion 241 – 280 μm long or 45 – 50 % of total neck length, uterus a simple tube-like structure and 80 – 115 μm long or 1.0 – 1.5 times the corresponding body diameter long, vulva transverse (V = 52 – 56), tail conical with finely rounded tip (56 – 69 μm, c = 28.6 – 33.7, c′ = 1.4 – 1.8), spicules 73 µm long, 13 spaced ventromedian supplements with one of them located within the range of the spicules.	en	Asgari, Mohsen, Álvarez-Ortega, Sergio, Mohammadlou, Mahsa, Eskandari, Ali (2026): Descriptions of two new species of Aporcelinus Andrássy, 2009 (Nematoda: Dorylaimida: Aporcelaimidae) and a new record from Iran. Zootaxa 5845 (2): 264-280, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5845.2.3, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5845.2.3
E17887870A75B97DE0AFFAA9D4B3F88A.taxon	discussion	Relationships. In its general morphology and morphometrics, and especially in the shape of its tail, which lacks any distinguishable dorsal concavity, the new species is very similar to A. mediterraneus Andrássy, 2009; A. diadematus (Cobb in Thorne & Swanger 1936) Andrássy, 2009 and A. zapotitlanensis Mejía-Madrid & Peña-Santiago, 2019. Nevertheless, A. nebulosus sp. nov. is easily distinguishable from A. mediterraneus by its longer odontostyle (22 – 25 vs 20 – 22 µm), lower a and c´ ratios (20 – 26 and 1.4 – 1.8 vs 30 – 38 and 2.0 – 2.3, respectively), tail with its inner cuticle layer not joining (vs joining) at the end and not reaching (vs nearly reaching), and tail with finely rounded (vs acute) terminus. It differs from A. diadematus, in its longer body length (1.85 – 2.10 vs 1.40 – 1.65 mm), longer odontostyle (22 – 25 vs 20 – 21 µm), longer female tail (57 – 69 vs 45 – 55 μm) and males with more ventromedian supplements (13 vs 9 – 10). And, it differs from A. zapotitlanensis in its longer body length (1.85 – 2.10 vs 1.19 – 1.43 mm), longer odontostyle (22 – 25 vs 19 – 21 µm), longer tail (56 – 69 vs 30 – 37 μm, c’ = 1.4 – 1.8 vs 1.2 – 1.4), males with more ventromedian supplements (13 vs 11 – 12), and longer spicules (73 vs 48 – 51 µm). The new species also resembles A. infundibulicaudatus (Andrássy 1991) Andrássy, 2009, A. kikereensis (Baqri & Coomans 1973) Álvarez-Ortega & Peña-Santiago, 2013 and A. reynecki (Van der Linde 1938) Peña-Santiago & Abolafia, 2016. It differs from A. infundibulicaudatus, by longer body length (1.85 – 2.10 vs 1.22 – 1.76 mm), longer female tail (57 – 69 vs 35 – 46 μm, c’ = 1.7 – 1.8 vs 1.2 – 1.5), the tail morphology (lacking vs bearing a perceptible dorsal concavity, ending in a finely rounded vs very acute terminus). From A. kikereensis by its longer body length (1.85 – 2.10 vs 1.10 – 1.45 mm), shorter odontostyle (22 – 25 vs 26 – 28 μm), more anterior vulva (V = 52 – 56 vs 60 – 61), and longer female tail (57 – 69 vs 30 – 36 μm, c’ = 1.4 – 1.8 vs 0.9 – 1.1). And, from A. reynecki, a poorly known species, in its longer odontostyle (22 – 25 vs 19 – 22 μm), tail lacking (vs bearing) a distinct dorsal concavity, longer female tail (57 – 69 vs 32 – 45 μm, c’ = 1.4 – 1.8 vs 1.2), longer spicules (73 vs 48 – 56 µm), and males with more ventromedian supplements (13 vs 8 – 10).	en	Asgari, Mohsen, Álvarez-Ortega, Sergio, Mohammadlou, Mahsa, Eskandari, Ali (2026): Descriptions of two new species of Aporcelinus Andrássy, 2009 (Nematoda: Dorylaimida: Aporcelaimidae) and a new record from Iran. Zootaxa 5845 (2): 264-280, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5845.2.3, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5845.2.3
E17887870A75B97DE0AFFAA9D4B3F88A.taxon	materials_examined	Type locality and habitat. Northeastern Iran, from soil around the rhizosphere of alder tree (Alnus sp.) in Abr Forest, Shahroud County, Semnan Province, Iran, GPS coordinates: 36 ° 44 ' 15.4 " N and 55 ° 01 ' 34.1 " E, elevation 2700 m above sea level. collected on 3 June 2018. Type material. Female holotype (slide: ABR- 1), five female paratypes (slide: ABR- 2, slide: ABR- 3) and one male paratype (slide: ABR- 1), deposited in the Nematode Collection of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran; three female (slide: ABR- 4) deposited in the nematode collection of the Rey Juan Carlos University, Campus de Móstoles, Madrid, Spain.	en	Asgari, Mohsen, Álvarez-Ortega, Sergio, Mohammadlou, Mahsa, Eskandari, Ali (2026): Descriptions of two new species of Aporcelinus Andrássy, 2009 (Nematoda: Dorylaimida: Aporcelaimidae) and a new record from Iran. Zootaxa 5845 (2): 264-280, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5845.2.3, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5845.2.3
E17887870A75B97DE0AFFAA9D4B3F88A.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The species name nebulosus (Latin: “ misty ” or “ cloudy ”) refers to Abr Forest, Shahroud, characterized by frequent mist and cloud cover.	en	Asgari, Mohsen, Álvarez-Ortega, Sergio, Mohammadlou, Mahsa, Eskandari, Ali (2026): Descriptions of two new species of Aporcelinus Andrássy, 2009 (Nematoda: Dorylaimida: Aporcelaimidae) and a new record from Iran. Zootaxa 5845 (2): 264-280, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5845.2.3, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5845.2.3
E17887870A7AB97AE0AFFF29D7FDFB02.taxon	description	urn: lsid: zoobank. org: act: DE 766189 - 8 AF 2 - 4 AB 8 - B 173 - FFA 59247 CE 1 F (Figs 5 and 6)	en	Asgari, Mohsen, Álvarez-Ortega, Sergio, Mohammadlou, Mahsa, Eskandari, Ali (2026): Descriptions of two new species of Aporcelinus Andrássy, 2009 (Nematoda: Dorylaimida: Aporcelaimidae) and a new record from Iran. Zootaxa 5845 (2): 264-280, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5845.2.3, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5845.2.3
E17887870A7AB97AE0AFFF29D7FDFB02.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. Nineteen specimens (8 ♀♀, 11 ♂♂), from two locations, in variable, often acceptable, state of preservation	en	Asgari, Mohsen, Álvarez-Ortega, Sergio, Mohammadlou, Mahsa, Eskandari, Ali (2026): Descriptions of two new species of Aporcelinus Andrássy, 2009 (Nematoda: Dorylaimida: Aporcelaimidae) and a new record from Iran. Zootaxa 5845 (2): 264-280, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5845.2.3, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5845.2.3
E17887870A7AB97AE0AFFF29D7FDFB02.taxon	description	Measurements. See Table 3. Description. Adult. Moderately slender to slender (a = 24 – 36) nematodes of medium size, 1.97 – 2.42 mm long. Upon fixation, habitus curved ventrad, to C-shaped in females and J-shaped in males. Cuticle two-layered, 2.5 – 3.5 μm thick at anterior region, 3.5 – 4.5 μm in mid-body and 4.0 – 6.0 μm on tail; inner layer thicker and more refractive than the outer layer. Lateral chords 14 – 20 μm broad or 17 – 22 % of mid-body diameter. Body pores, if present, obscure. Lip region offset by a distinct constriction, 2.4 – 2.9 times as wide as high and 22 – 30 % of body diameter at neck base; lips moderately separate, with protruding papillae. Amphid fovea cup-shaped, its opening 10 – 12 μm broad or about one-half of lip region diameter. Cheilostom nearly as long as wide, with no specialization. Odontostyle strong, 7.0 – 7.6 times as long as wide, 1.0 – 1.2 times as long as lip region diameter, and 0.9 – 1.0 % of body length, aperture 10 – 12 μm long or occupying 48 – 52 % of its length. Guiding ring simple but distinct and somewhat plicate, located at 9.0 – 11 μm or 0.5 – 0.6 times the lip region diameter from the anterior end. Odontophore rod-like, 1.5 – 1.7 times the odontostyle long. Pharynx consisting of a slender but muscular anterior section enlarging very gradually in the posterior, the expansion 4.8 – 5.8 times as long as wide, 3.0 – 3.7 times the corresponding body diameter and occupies 40 – 51 % of total neck length; gland nuclei in general obscure in the specimens examined: DO = 57 – 59, DN = 60 – 64, S 1 N 1 = 72 – 75, S 1 N 2 = 77 – 79, S 2 N = 87 – 89. Nerve ring at 167 – 170 μm or 32 – 34 % of total neck length from the anterior end. Pharyngo-intestinal surrounded by a distinct ring-like structure with a dorsal lobe; cardia conical, 25 – 34 × 15 – 20 μm; a dorsal cell mass is present at a variable distance behind the pharyngeal base. Tail similar in both sexes, conical, ventrally concave, dorsally convex, and finely rounded tip, inner cuticle layer not reaching the tail tip, so that a hyaline portion up to 10 μm thick is perceptible; caudal pores two pairs at the middle of tail, one subdorsal, another sublateral. Female. Genital system diovarian, with both branches equally and well developed, 425 – 480 μm long or 19 – 23 % of body length. Ovaries variably large, 169 – 302 µm long, often reaching and surpassing the oviduct – uterus junction. Oviduct 176 – 227 μm long or 2.0 – 3.0 times corresponding body diameter, and consisting of a slender portion and a large pars dilatata with wide lumen and abundant sperm cells inside. a sphincter separates oviduct and uterus. Uterus 194 – 289 μm long or 2.6 – 4.0 times the corresponding body diameter, tripartite, that is consisting of a short and wider proximal region, a narrower intermediate section with very narrow lumen, and a nearly spherical large distal part; uterine egg observed in two specimens, 98 – 108 × 40 – 56 μm, typical of the genus as their shell appears visibly irregular or undulate. Vagina extending inwards 35 – 48 μm or 50 – 60 % of body diameter, pars proximalis 18 – 25 × 18 – 22 μm in size with somewhat sigmoid walls and surrounded by weak musculature, pars refringens consisting of two drop-shaped or pieces, 5 – 7 × 5 – 6 μm and a combined width of 12 – 15 μm, pars distalis well developed and refractive, 3 – 4 μm long. Vulva a transverse slit. Prerectum 2.0 – 3.3 and rectum 1.1 – 1.3 anal body diameter long. Male. Genital system diorchic, with opposite testes. In addition to the ad-cloacal pair, situated at 8.0 – 11.0 μm from the cloacal aperture, there is a series of 16 – 21 irregularly spaced, 8 – 16 μm apart, ventromedian supplements, two of them located within the range of spicules, at 23 – 31 μm from the ad-cloacal pair. Spicules dorylaimoid, 4.2 – 5.0 times as long as wide, and 1.5 – 2.9 times longer than cloacal body diameter. Curvature 127 – 138 °. Dorsal side regularly convex, ventral side hump and hollow perceptible. Head 1.1 – 1.4 times longer than wide, occupying 17 – 23 % of total length, with the dorsal side somewhat longer than the ventral one and weakly curved; median piece 14 – 17 times longer than wide, occupying 25 – 30 % of the spicule maximum width, reaching the terminal tip; posterior end 3.0 – 4.0 μm wide. Lateral guiding pieces 16 – 20 μm long, 5.4 – 6.3 times longer than wide. Prerectum 3.3 – 4.0 and cloaca 1.6 – 2.3 times the corresponding body width long.	en	Asgari, Mohsen, Álvarez-Ortega, Sergio, Mohammadlou, Mahsa, Eskandari, Ali (2026): Descriptions of two new species of Aporcelinus Andrássy, 2009 (Nematoda: Dorylaimida: Aporcelaimidae) and a new record from Iran. Zootaxa 5845 (2): 264-280, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5845.2.3, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5845.2.3
E17887870A7AB97AE0AFFF29D7FDFB02.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. The new species is characterized by its 1.97 – 2.42 mm long body, lip region offset by constriction and 17 – 20 μm broad, odontostyle 21 – 23 μm or 1.0 – 1.2 times the lip region diameter, neck 455 – 548 μm long, pharyngeal expansion 200 – 267 μm long or 40 – 51 % of total neck length, uterus tripartite and 194 – 289 μm long or 2.6 – 4.0 times the corresponding body diameter long, vulva transverse (V = 49.5 – 54.3), tail conical, ventrally concave, dorsally convex, (48 – 68 μm, c = 31.6 – 44.7, c’ = 1.4 – 2.0), finely rounded tip and distinct hyaline region. Spicules 73 – 86 µm long and 16 – 21 spaced ventromedian supplements with two of them located within the range of the spicules.	en	Asgari, Mohsen, Álvarez-Ortega, Sergio, Mohammadlou, Mahsa, Eskandari, Ali (2026): Descriptions of two new species of Aporcelinus Andrássy, 2009 (Nematoda: Dorylaimida: Aporcelaimidae) and a new record from Iran. Zootaxa 5845 (2): 264-280, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5845.2.3, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5845.2.3
E17887870A7AB97AE0AFFF29D7FDFB02.taxon	discussion	Relationships. This new species, having relatively large size (> 2.0 mm), odontostyle (up to 23 μm), long tail length (> 48 μm), number of supplements (> 16), and tail tapering to a finely rounded tip, resembles A. vulvatus Andrássy, 2012; A. altitudinalis Andrássy, 2009; A. reyesi Vinciguerra, Orselli & Clausi, 2014; A. reynecki; A. paramamillatus Nguyen, Abolafia, Bonkowski & Peña-Santiago, 2016 and A. mediterraneus. It differs from A. vulvatus by its lower female a ratio (a = 24 – 32 vs 34 – 40), shorter odontostyle (21 – 23 vs 25 – 28 µm), lower female c ratio (c = 32 – 41 vs 43 – 52), and by the higher number of ventromedian supplements (16 – 21 vs 10 – 13). From A. altitudinalis by its shorter odontostyle (21 – 23 vs 23 – 30 µm), longer tail (48 – 68 vs 33 – 45 μm, c’ = 1.4 – 2.0 vs 0.8 – 1.0), tail morphology (regularly convex at the dorsal side vs bearing an appreciably dorsal concavity, inner core reaching three-fifths of tail length vs nearly reaching the tail tip), and by the higher number of ventromedian supplements (16 – 21 vs 12 – 13). From A. reyesi by its longer body length (1.97 – 2.42 vs 1.69 – 1.92 mm), shorter odontostyle (21 – 23 vs 29 – 36 µm), tail morphology (regularly convex at the dorsal side vs first convex and then concave, tail with finely rounded vs acute terminus), and by the higher number of ventromedian supplements (16 – 21 vs 13). From A. reynecki by its longer body length (1.97 – 2.42 vs 1.38 – 1.93 mm), longer tail (48 – 68 vs 32 – 45 μm, c’ = 1.4 – 2.0 vs 1.2), longer spicules (73 – 86 vs 48 – 56) and by the higher number of ventromedian supplements (16 – 21 vs 8 – 10). From A. paramamillatus by its longer tail (48 – 68 vs 27 – 34 μm, c’ = 1.4 – 2.0 vs 0.6 – 0.9), and tail morphology (lacking terminal peg-like vs ending in a peg-like terminal portion and not visibly re-curved dorsad). And, from A. mediterraneus by its longer body length (1.97 – 2.42 vs 1.65 – 1.96 mm), comparatively shorter female tail (c’ = 1.5 – 2.0 vs 2.0 – 2.4), and tail morphology (inner cuticle layer not joining vs joining at the end and tail with finely rounded vs acute terminus).	en	Asgari, Mohsen, Álvarez-Ortega, Sergio, Mohammadlou, Mahsa, Eskandari, Ali (2026): Descriptions of two new species of Aporcelinus Andrássy, 2009 (Nematoda: Dorylaimida: Aporcelaimidae) and a new record from Iran. Zootaxa 5845 (2): 264-280, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5845.2.3, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5845.2.3
E17887870A7AB97AE0AFFF29D7FDFB02.taxon	materials_examined	Type locality and habitat. Northern Iran, from mosses in a natural area in Chamleh village, Tarom County, Zanjan Province, Iran, GPS coordinates: 36 ° 48 ' 13.5 " N, 49 ° 01 ' 37.8 " E, elevation 1080 m above sea level. Collected on 10 July 2021. Other locality and habitat. Northern Iran, from mosses in the forests around Qaleh Rudkhan, Fuman County, Gilan Province, Iran, GPS coordinates: 37 ° 00 ' 17.8 " N and 49 ° 15 ' 02.7 " E, elevation ca. 700 m above sea level. Collected on 23 May 2018. Type material. Female holotype (slide: TA- 1), four female paratypes (slides: TA – 1 - to TA – 4), and seven male paratypes (slides: ta- 1 to TA – 6), deposited in the Nematode Collection of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran; four female and four male (slides: TA 5 – 6) deposited in the nematode collection of the Rey Juan Carlos University, Campus de Móstoles, Madrid, Spain.	en	Asgari, Mohsen, Álvarez-Ortega, Sergio, Mohammadlou, Mahsa, Eskandari, Ali (2026): Descriptions of two new species of Aporcelinus Andrássy, 2009 (Nematoda: Dorylaimida: Aporcelaimidae) and a new record from Iran. Zootaxa 5845 (2): 264-280, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5845.2.3, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5845.2.3
E17887870A7AB97AE0AFFF29D7FDFB02.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The species name taromensis refers to Tarom, a mountainous region in Zanjan Province, northwestern Iran, where the type population of this species was collected.	en	Asgari, Mohsen, Álvarez-Ortega, Sergio, Mohammadlou, Mahsa, Eskandari, Ali (2026): Descriptions of two new species of Aporcelinus Andrássy, 2009 (Nematoda: Dorylaimida: Aporcelaimidae) and a new record from Iran. Zootaxa 5845 (2): 264-280, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5845.2.3, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5845.2.3
E17887870A7AB97AE0AFFF29D7FDFB02.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Both studied populations are morphologically and morphometrically very similar, and no differences between them were observed.	en	Asgari, Mohsen, Álvarez-Ortega, Sergio, Mohammadlou, Mahsa, Eskandari, Ali (2026): Descriptions of two new species of Aporcelinus Andrássy, 2009 (Nematoda: Dorylaimida: Aporcelaimidae) and a new record from Iran. Zootaxa 5845 (2): 264-280, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5845.2.3, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5845.2.3
