A novel species of nematode belonging to the family Xyalidae is described from the continental margin of the southeastern Arabian Sea (1100 m). The new species, Scaptrella filicaudata sp. nov., is differentiated from the existing species by the swan-shaped longer spicule (45 μm), gubernaculum with dorsocaudally directed apophysis and long filiform tapering tail. A pictorial key to all the valid species of Scaptrella Cobb, 1917 is provided