This volume investigates the extent to which coevolutionary relationships between parasites and their hosts influence the development of systematic classification and phylogenetic mapping. Edited by A.R. Stone and D.L. Hawksworth, the text compiles a series of scholarly essays that examine the assumption of parallel trait evolution. By analyzing diverse biological groups, the contributors evaluate whether parasitological rules provide a reliable framework for understanding the evolutionary history of these organisms.

Experts recognize this volume as a specialized resource for researchers in evolutionary biology and systematics. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which serves as a foundational reference for understanding the complexities of host-parasite coevolution.