NEOECHINORHYNCHUS ROSTRATUM SP. N. (ACANTHOCEPHALA, NEOECHINORHYNCHIDAE) FROM THE EEL, ANGUILLA-ROSTRATA, IN ESTUARINE WATERS OF NORTHEASTERN NORTH-AMERICA

Neoechinorhynchus rostratum sp. n. (Neoechinorhynchidae) is described from the eel, Anguilla rostrata (Le Sueur), in estuarine waters along the New England and Canadian coasts. The new species is very similar t o N. cylindratus (Van Cleave, 1913) Van Cleave 1919 with which it has been taxonomically confused. The 2 species can, however, be separated based on egg morphology and the shape of the adult female posterior en d, among other features such as host and habitat distribution. Museum specimens of N. cylindratus from eels have been examined and reassigne d to the new species.