Acanthochitona crinita | |
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Acanthochitona crinita specimens in Naturalis | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Mollusca |
Class: | Polyplacophora |
Order: | Chitonida |
Family: | Acanthochitonidae |
Genus: | Acanthochitona |
Species: | A. crinita |
Binomial name | |
Acanthochitona crinita (Pennant, 1777) | |
Synonyms [1] | |
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Acanthochitona crinita is a species of marine chiton in the family Acanthochitonidae. [1] It is found on rocky coasts in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.
Acanthochitona crinita is oval, less than half as long as it is wide, and grows to a length of about 34 mm (1.34 in). [2] Like other chitons, it bears a protective shell formed from eight articulating valves on its dorsal surface, these being embedded in a tough muscular girdle. [3] [4] The valves in this species are strongly arched with moderately rounded keels, and are finely sculpted longitudinally. The girdle bears 18 tufts of short bristles, four tufts at the front, and one on either side of the junctions between the plates. The dorsal surface is rough, with irregular granulations and fine spines. The colour is very variable, being some shade of grey, fawn, brown, pink, pale green or pale blue, often marbled or streaked. [2]
Native to the northeastern Atlantic Ocean, A. crinita ranges from Norway and the North Sea, through the English Channel and the Bay of Biscay to the Mediterranean Sea. It is found on rocks on the lower shore and shallow sublittoral zone, especially areas with strong surf action. It tends to remain under stones to prevent desiccation when not immersed. [5]
This species is herbivorous, and when submerged, especially at night, crawls about on the rock feeding. It uses its radula, which is armed with several rows of teeth, to graze on the coralline algae growing on the rock, also feeding on any unicellular algae forming a film there. Chitons have separate sexes, and fertilisation takes place in the mantle cavity of the female. The larvae have a short planktonic trochophore larval phase before settling to the seabed, undergoing metamorphosis and developing into juvenile chitons with six valve plates, which soon hide under stones. Chitons can adhere to the rock with a powerful suction grip. [5]
Chitons are marine molluscs of varying size in the class Polyplacophora, formerly known as Amphineura. About 940 extant and 430 fossil species are recognized.
The gumboot chiton, also known as the giant western fiery chiton, is the largest of the chitons, growing to 36 cm (14 in) and capable of reaching a weight of more than 2 kg (4.4 lb). It is found along the shores of the northern Pacific Ocean from Central California to Alaska, across the Aleutian Islands to the Kamchatka Peninsula and south to Japan. It inhabits the lower intertidal and subtidal zones of rocky coastlines. The gumboot chiton's appearance has led some tidepoolers to refer to it, fondly, as the "wandering meatloaf". The name "gumboot chiton" seems to derive from a resemblance to part of a rubber Wellington boot or "gum rubber" boot.
Chiton glaucus, common name the green chiton or the blue green chiton, is a species of chiton, a marine polyplacophoran mollusk in the family Chitonidae, the typical chitons. It is the most common chiton species in New Zealand. Chiton glaucus is part of a very primitive group of mollusc with evidence of being present in up to 80 million years of the fossil record.
Acanthochitona is a genus of chitons in the family Acanthochitonidae, of worldwide distribution.
Acanthochitona zelandica is a species of chiton in the family Acanthochitonidae, also sometimes known as the hairy, or "tufted," chiton. It probably developed during the mid to late Pleistocene, and is endemic to New Zealand.
Acanthopleura granulata, common name the West Indian fuzzy chiton, is a medium-sized tropical species of chiton. This type of chiton’s activity does not depend on spring-neap oscillations leading to lower locomotion loss. Its morphology is different from usual chitons as it has a fifth valve, which is split into halves.
Acanthochitonidae is a family of chitons, marine molluscs in the class Polyplacophora.
Mopalia ciliata is a chiton in the genus Mopalia, commonly known as the hairy chiton. It is a medium-sized marine mollusc up to 5.0 cm in length. It is oval shaped with 8 separate moderately elevated, overlapping ridged valves on its dorsal surface. It resides along the coast of North America.
Acanthochitona fascicularis is a common chiton in the family Acanthochitonidae.
Abra alba, or the white furrow shell, is a species of bivalve mollusc in the family Semelidae. It occurs in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, where it lives on the floor in shallow areas buried in soft sediments.
Phaxas pellucidus, the transparent razor shell, is a species of marine bivalve mollusc in the family Pharidae. It is found buried in the seabed in coastal waters of northwest Europe, often in great numbers.
Asterina gibbosa, commonly known as the starlet cushion star, is a species of starfish in the family Asterinidae. It is native to the northeastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.
Aulactinia verrucosa, the gem anemone, is a species of sea anemone in the family Actiniidae. It is found on rocky coasts in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean, North Sea and Mediterranean Sea.
Onchidoris proxima is a species of sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a shell-less marine gastropod mollusc in the family Onchidorididae. This species is found in the northeastern and northwestern parts of the Atlantic Ocean. It is also reported from the northeastern Pacific Ocean. Previously in the genus Adalaria this species was moved to Onchidoris as a result of a molecular phylogeny study.
Chiton olivaceus, the green chiton, is a species of chiton, a marine polyplacophoran mollusk in the family Chitonidae, the typical chitons.
Acanthochitona garnoti, the spiny chiton, is a medium-sized polyplacophoran mollusc in the family Acanthochitonidae, found on the coast of southern Africa.
Henricia oculata, commonly known as the bloody Henry starfish, is a species of starfish in the family Echinasteridae. It is native to northwestern Europe. It was first described as Asterias oculata by the British zoologist Thomas Pennant in 1777, later being transferred to the genus Henricia.
Leptopentacta elongata is a species of sea cucumber in the family Cucumariidae. It is found in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean and parts of the Mediterranean Sea. It is an infaunal species, occupying a burrow in the seabed, from which its anterior and posterior ends project.
Tonicella marmorea is a species of chiton, a polyplacophoran mollusc found in the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean. It was first described by the Danish missionary and naturalist Otto Fabricius.
Acinetospora crinita is a species of brown alga in the family Acinetosporaceae. It is found in the temperate northeastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.