Echinocephalus scoliodonti n.sp (Nematoda: Gnathostomatidae) from an Elasmobranch Fish, Scoliodon sorrakowah (Cuvier).

Echinocephalus scoliodonti n. sp. from the spiral valve of elasmobranch fish, Scoliodon sorrakowah (Cuvier) collected from Bheemunipatnam (Bay of Bengal) is described and figured. A detailed examination has allowed us to erect a new especies of Echinocephalus to accommodate the worm. It shows remarkable differences from other known species of Echinocephalus in respect of body measurements, number and arrangement of caudal papillae, number of rows of cephalic spines, absence of gubernaculum and presence of oesophago-intestinal valves. The new species is designated as Echinocephalus scoliodonti.