SPHAERECHINORHYNCHUS OPHIOGRANDIS N-SP (ACANTHOCEPHALA, PLAGIORHYNCHIDAE, SPHAERECHINORHYNCHINAE), DESCRIBED FROM THE INTESTINE OF A KING COBRA, OPHIOPHAGUS HANNAH

Six acanthocephalan specimens of an undescribed species of Sphaerechin orhynchus Johnston and Deland, 1929, were found attached to the mucosa l surface of the proximal small intestine of a legally imported king c obra, Ophiophagus hannah (Canter, 1836). These specimens are described as Sphaerechinorhynchus ophiograndis n. sp., the third species of the genus from snakes native to the Indo-Australian region, and the secon d species described from adults in the king cobra. Sphaerechinorhynchu s ophiograndis n. sp. differs from Sphaerechinorhynchus serpenticola S chmidt and Kuntz, 1966 and Sphaerechinorhynchus rotundocapitus (Johnst on, 1912) Johnston and Deland, 1929, by differences in proboscis and h ook morphology, lemniscus length and appearance, testes presentation, number of cement glands, and, additionally from S. rotundocapitus, by overall trunk size and location of attachment within the host species.