Specimens of Hypermastus sp. 1 were found on a burrowing echinoid, probably a species of Metalia. Although the shell and animal look similar to what we are calling Melanella sp. 2 and M. sp. 7, its presence on an echinoid rather than a holothurian probably put it into the genus Hypermastus, which are exclusive parasites of irregular urchins.
On its burrowing echinoid host.
Created 1 July 2017
Updated 19 March 2021