Merlinius

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          Merlinius Siddiqi, 1970

    Synonyms:
Allentylenchus Khan & Saeed, 1988

Body usually < 1 mm long (except M. adakensis Bernard, 1984, M. graminicola (Kirjanova, 1951) Siddiqi, 1976 and M. productus (Thorne, 1949) Sher, 1974),
Cuticle lacking longitudinal striae or grooves; lateral field with six incisures, normally not areolated posterior to esophageal region.
Deirids distinct, in four-incisure region of lateral field.
Cephalic region continuous or slightly set off, not bulbous; annules broken by six radial grooves; perioral disc indistinct, hexagonal, not well demarcated from surrounding labial area; submedian sectors wider than lateral sectors bearing amphidial apertures located posterior to border of oral plate.
Stylet usually under 20 um long (except M. adakensis where it is 34 (32-36) um long).
Vulva closed, slit-like; epiptygma indistinct.
Female tail conoid to subcylindrical, pointed or occasionally with a mucro.
Spicules cylindroid, straight to slightly arcuate, tip blunt to notched.
Gubernaculum crescent-shaped in lateral view.