Taxonomy, anatomy, and histology of the lined sea anemone, Edwardsiella lineata (Verrill, 1873) (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Edwardsiidae)

摘要

The lined sea anemone, Edwardsiella lineata (Verrill, 1873) is a common inhabitant of shallow waters of the North Atlantic from Cape Cod to Cape Hatteras. Its larval form, described as Edwardsia leidyi Verrill, 1898, is an endoparasite of the ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi and has been identified as the cause of sea-bather's itch. Although the biology and anatomy of the larval form are well documented, the internal anatomy and histology of adults has not been described. Confusion about the correct name for this species and about the identity of adults that produce the larvae have made identifying and monitoring this species difficult. In this study, I describe the anatomy of adult members of E. lineata, synthesize existing accounts of its development and life history, and detail the taxonomy of E. lineata and the genus Edwardsiella.