Filenchus afghanicus
Khan, M.L. & S.H. Khan, 1978
Photo Gallery- Konza Prairie
Holotype female:  L = 0.52 mm; a = 35; b = 5; c = 4.6; V = 60%; spear = 9 um; MB = 45.4 %.
Allotype male:  L = 0.55 mm; a = 39; b = 5; c = 4; spicules = 18um; gubernaculum = 4.5um; spear = 9um; MB = 40%.
Paratypes (5 females):  L = 0.46-0.6 (5.2) mm; a = 28-35 (32); b = 4.5-5.8 (5.3); c = 4-5 (4.3); V = 56-63 (61%);  spear = 8-10 (9)um; MB = 39-45%.
                 (3 males):  L =  0.5-0.55 mm; a = 29-39; b = 5.5-6; c = 4-5; spicules = 15-18um; gubernaculum = 4-5um; spear = 8-10um; MB = 40-44%

Description:  Female: Body slightly ventrally arcuate, tapering anteriorly and considerably posteriorly.  Body striae about 1.5um apart at midbody.  Lateral field with 4 incisures, occupying 1/3 of the corresponding body.  Lip region slightly elevated, continuous with body contour; truncate anteriorly.  Stylet 9um long, delicate apparently thin, with anterior tapering part 1/3 of its total length.  Basal knobs rounded.  Opening of dorsal oesophageal gland duct about 3um behind spear base.  Median oesophageal bulb ovate.  Ishmus long and tubular, enveloped by nerve ring near its middle.  Basal bulb pyriform, setoff from the intestine.  Cardia small. Excretory pore located opposite anterior end of basal oesophageal bulb.  Hemizonid at level of excretory pore.  Deirids visible.  Vulva a depressed transverse slit, located beyond 60% of the body.  Vagina straight and thin-walled, at right angles to body axis.  Ovary prodelphic.  Post-uterine sac 2/3 of the vulval body-width long.  Vulva-anus distance shorter than tail.  Tail ventrally arcuate to straight about 12 anal body-widths long, filiform, regularly tapering to a finely pointed terminus.

Male:  Body with clear transverse striations about 1.5um near midbody.  Lateral fields with 4 incisures.  Stylet 8-9um long.  Orifice of dorsal oesophageal gland duct about 2um behind spear base.  Spicules ventrally curved, 15-18um long.  Gubernaculum small, bent, 4-6um long.  Bursa adanal.  Tail slightly ventrally arcuate, more than 12 anal body widths long, gradually tapering to a pointed terminus.

Type habitat and locality:  Collected from soil around roots of pistachio nut in District Herat, Afghanistan, by Mr. Murtazvi of Botany Department, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh.

Diagnosis and Relationship:  Tylenchus afghanicus n. sp. comes close to T. andrassyi Szczygiel, 1969 and T. discrepans Andrassy, 1954.  It differs from the former species in having shorter body, relatively longer neck, longer tail, and anteriorly located vulva (L = 0.80-0.93 mm; b = 6.1-7.0; c = 6.3-7.2; and V = 66-68% in T. andrassyi).  From the latter species it differs in having differently shaped head with basal ring of cephalic framework, smaller spear and more anteriorly located vulva (head broad, without basal ring of cephalic framework; spear 7-71 um long; V = 64-69% in T. discrepans).  T. afghanicus differs, finally, from T. sheri because of its anteriorly located excretory pore and larger post-uterine sac.