Ctenosculum Hawaiiense Heath: Confirmation of Its Affinities (Crustacea: Ascothoracida—Ex Mollusca: Gastropoda)

Abstract

ABSTRACT Waren correctly surmised from the original description that Ctenosculum hawaiiense Heath is really an ascothoracid crustacean, not a parasitic gastropod. The species is redescribed from a new specimen. Heath's remarkably complete description is reinterpreted in conformance with the new specimen and with published accounts of other ascothoracids. Within the Ascothoracida, Ctenosculum seems to be related to the anthozoan-infesting genera Gorgonolaureus and Laura, and is hypothesized to have begun parasitizing echinoderms independently of the Synagogidae and Dendrogastridae. C. hawaiiense is retained in the family Ctenosculidae pending further systematic studies of the Ascothoracida.