identification key and introduction of new species of order symphypleona (collembola, hexapoda)

the symphypleona fauna of mazandaran province was studied in 2013. the specimens were extracted by berlese funnel from soil, leaf litter and dead woods and identified after preparing microscopic slides. in present study, the specimens are belonging to the families, sminthurididae and katiannidae. among the species of katiannidae, sminthurinus gisini gama, 1965 is recorded for the first time from iran and s. elegans fitch, 1863 is new for noor region. family sminthurididae is reported for the first time from mazandaran province. the genus sphaeridia linnaniemi, 1912 and species s. pumilis (krausbauer, 1898) belonging to this family are new for mazandaran province. an identification key for the families, genera and species of order symphypleona which have been reported from iran is presented in this study.