A stranger among us: the occurrence of Cantellius (Balnoidea: Pyrgomatidae) an epibiont of scleractinias in stylasterids (Hydrozoa). Issue 4 (9th April 2020) - Zweifler, Adi
Abstract: Barnacles that fit morphologically into the description of the pyrgomatid genus Cantellius were retrieved from hydrozoan Stylasteridae. The use of molecular markers also confirmed the assignment of these barnacles to the genus Cantellius . Hitherto, stylasterids have not been recorded as hosts of pyrgomatids. This finding conflicts with and refutes the statement that scleractinans (Hexacorallia) are obligatory hosts of pyrgomatids. These are the first unequivocal records of living pyrgomatids in stylasterids, thus documenting a new type of habitat for this group of barnacles. Further inspections of stylasterids will probably reveal more new host records and, possibly, new pyrgomatids.