Integrative taxonomy and phylogenetic relationships between representatives of genera within Merliniinae (Nematoda: Merliniidae), with new data on fourteen known and one unknown species

Abstract

The application of integrative taxonomic approaches is useful to species delineation based on a combination of distinct types of characters, here morphological features and ribosomal DNA sequences. In this study, we surveyed ectoparasitic nematodes of the subfamily Merliniinae in cultivated and natural environments in Iran. Results of morphological and morphometrical studies, light and scanning electron microscopic observations, and molecular analyses allowed us the identification of fourteen known and one unknown species including representatives of the genera Amplimerlinius (five species), Geocenamus (one species), Merlinius (three species), Nagelus (two species), Paramerlinius (one specie..