NEW DISTRIBUTION AND HOST RECORD FOR THE STARFISH PARASITE DENDROGASTER (CRUSTACEA, ASCOTHORACIDA)

This work presents the description of an intracoelomic parasite of the genus Dendrogaster (Crustacea: Ascothoracida), the largest ever repor ted, collected for the first time from the starfish Hippasteria phrygi ana in the deep waters of the St Lawrence Estuary (eastern Canada). Th e parasite bears a close resemblance to only one previously described species, D. arbusculus from the west American coast, suggesting a bico astal and possibly circumpolar distribution. Female growth is concurre nt with embryo development and the parasite may have a negative impact on host starfish densities through gonad atrophy. This research also demystifies the old and persistent description of a supposed parasite in H. phrygiana 70 years ago, Laocoon paradoxus, and finally concludes that this parasite never existed and in fact represents the water vas cular system found in all starfish.