Kalicephalus sp. in a captive Russell's viper: a case report.

The occurrence of Kalicephalus sp. of hookworms in a Russell's viper snake maintained in Chennai snake park trust, Chennai is reported. These worms were found in the stomach and intestine. They were cylindrical, thread like and had an elongate body. Anterior end was obliquely truncated with bivalvular buccal capsule. Short, thick and muscularised oesophagus ending in a rounded bulb was observed. In males, a well developed trilobed bursa was observed and the spicules were short and equal. Typical strongyle type eggs were found in the uterus of female worms as well as in the intestinal contents.