Subfamily Spilipherinae

Diagnosis (after Tchesunov, 2014): Cuticle homo- or heterogenous with or without the presence of lateral differentiation of larger dots. Six outer labial setae and four cephalic setae usually in a single circle. Amphidial fovea situated laterally on the head, spiral, i.e., either cryptospiral with a circular outline or a single-loop spiral with at most 1.5 turns. Buccal cavity with three or more solid teeth with or without apophyses. Pharynx with subdivided end bulb. Males with precloacal supplements setose or absent. Tail conical or elongate. All genera in this subfamily are marine, with no records so far in freshwaters.