The Meyliinae contains seven species belonging to four genera: Boucherius Decraemer & Jensen, 1982, Gerlachius Andrassy, 1976, Meylia Gerlach, 1956 and Noffsingeria Decraemer & Jensen, 1982, differentiated from each other primarily by the ornamentation of the body cuticle. The Meyliinae are compared with the Desmoscolecidae (senu Lorenzen, 1969; Timm, 1970) and found to be unique in the position and structure of the amphids and in the reflexed branches of the female reproductive system. It is concluded that they belong to the Desmoscolecida, closely related to the Tricominae. |