Description of Neohalenchus bryophilus gen. n. sp. n. (Tylenchida: Anguinoidea) associated with mosses in Bhutan with proposal of a new subfamily

Neohalenchus bryophilus gen. n. sp.n. is described and illustrated alongwith proposal and diagnosis of a new subfamily Neohalenchinae. The new genus is closely related to Hdenchus Cobb, 1933 due to presence of a wide and prominent excretory pore with highly sclerotised excretory duct and oesophageal gland overlap but differs in havingvalvate and muscular median bulb,extremely longtail with terminus not hooked ventrally and bursa enveloping only 114th to 115th of the tail. Neohalenchus bryophilus gen.n.sp.n. is characterized by L=970–1250 μm; a=34.6–47.6; c=6.6–8.0; c’=7.6–8.9; V=60=66%; Stylet = 18–21 μm; tail length = 130–190 pm: excretory pore wide with highly sclerotised excretory duct; median bulb with distinct valve plates; SpicuIes=25=26 μm; gubernaculum =7–9 μm; bursa adanal enveloping only a small part of the tail. Under Anguinidae sensu Siddiqi (2000), three subfamilies are recognised: Anguininae, Halenchinae and Neohalenchinae subfam. n. A diagnostic key to the subfamilies of Anguinidae is also provided.