Free-living aquatic nematodes are abundant, diverse and of general environmental importance. However, knowledge of species distributions of both marine and freshwater nematodes is sparse. Species distribution data are crucial for evaluating environmental impacts from human activities and to conduct integrated nematode community assessments. Basic knowledge on taxonomy and species descriptions is lacking for many regions due to decreasing taxonomic expertise, yet it is essential for biodiversity research and for building molecular sequence libraries for the application of methods such as environmental DNA. In order to encourage and facilitate taxonomic and descriptive work on this understudied group, we present here a framework for nematode species description. We begin by providing a brief overview of nematology history, then provide suggestions of microscopic methods that should be used and provide a list of characters essential for morphometric species descriptions. Finally, we briefly discuss common molecular sequencing approaches that are commonly used in nematode taxonomic literature.

BioConsult GmbH and Co KG Auf der Muggenburg 30; 28217 Bremen; Germany

Department of Biology; University of Texas at San Antonio; San Antonio; TX; 78249 USA

Department of Zoology; Swedish Museum of Natural History; Box 50007; SE 104 05; Stockholm; Sweden

Ghent University; Biology Department; Marine Biology Research Group; Krijgslaan 281; S8; B 9000; Ghent; Belgium

Ghent University; Department of Biology; Nematology Research Group; Ledeganckstraat; 35; B 9000 Ghent; Belgium

Insect and Nematode Biosecurity; CSIRO; GPO Box 1700; Caberra; Act; Australia

Institute of Entomology; Branišovská; 31; 37005; České Budějovice; Czech Republic

Lomonosov Moscow State University; Faculty of Biology; 119991; 1 12 Leninskie Gory; Moscow; Russia

Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research; 231 Morrin Road; Auckland; New Zealand

National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Ltd ; 301 Evans Bay Parade Hataitai; Wellington; New Zealand

P P Shirshov Institute of Oceanology; Russian Academy of Sciences; Nakhimovsky prosp 36; 117 997; Moscow; Russia

Universidade Federal do Pará; Grupo de Estudos de Nematoda Aquáticos; Laboratório de Pesquisa em Monitoramento Ambiental Marinho; Av Augusto Corrêa; 01 Guamá Belém PA; Brazil

University Milano Bicocca; Dipartimento di Biotecnologie and Bioscienze; Piazza della Scienza 2; 20126 Milano; Italy

University of Havana; Centro de Investigaciones Marinas; Habana; 11300; Cuba

University of Jaén; Department of Animal Biology; Plant Biology and Ecology; Edificio B3; Despacho 146; Campus Las Lagunillas s n; 23071 Jaén; Spain

University of Salzburg; Department of Biosciences; Hellbrunnerstraße 34; 5020 Salzburg; Austria

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