During a recent expedition to Ascension Island in the southern Atlantic Ocean, a polyplacophoran of the genus Acanthochitona was collected, corresponding to the first recorded species of this molluscan class from this remote island. A scanning electron microscope study reveals a close affinity to Acanthochitona subrubicunda, which was so far only known from the Cape Verde Archipelago. Due to the lack of comparable type material the new finding warrants a confirmed identification and is only

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... atively attributed to Acanthochitona subrubicunda. It is hypothesized that the class Polyplacophora was either overlooked during earlier surveys or colonized the island in more recent time. If the latter scenario took place, a transport by ships is thinkable.