Family DOLICHODORIDAE

                                  Rev 5/91

Classification:

      Tylenchida
       Tylenchina
        Tylenchoidea  
         Dolichodoridae (Chitwood, 1950)
    Synonyms:
      None.

Morphology and Anatomy:

Large, slender nematodes with cylindroid bodies. 

No secondary sexual dimorphism. 

Cuticle distinctly annulated, lateral field with three or four incisures. 

Labial region distinctly off-set and annulated (rarely smooth).

Labial sclerotization strong, with very thick basal plate and thick arches. 

Amphid apertures small slits laterally or dorso-ventrally directed.

No deirids. 

Female tail rounded to hemispherical with spike-like extension, rarely elongate-conoid. 

Females with two genital branches, columned uterus with four rows of cells; vagina very heavily sclerotized. 

Male caudal alae wing-like and tri-lobed. 

(Photomicrograph by I.A. Zasada)

Amphimictic reproduction. 

Stylet well developed up to 150 µm.; cone markedly longer than shaft. 

Esophagus with amalgamated pro-metacorpus, short isthmus and pyriform glandular region not overlapping the intestine. 

Obligate migratory ectoparasites of plant roots.

[Ref: Luc & Fortuner, Rev. Nematol. 10(2):177-181 (1987), and H. Ferris.]