| Acanthochitona fascicularis | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Polyplacophora |
| Order: | Chitonida |
| Family: | Acanthochitonidae |
| Genus: | Acanthochitona |
| Species: | A. fascicularis |
| Binomial name | |
| Acanthochitona fascicularis | |
| Synonyms | |
Acanthochitona fascicularis, the Velvety mail shell, [1] is a common chiton in the family Acanthochitonidae.
This chiton has been recorded in European waters, the Mediterranean Sea, the Red Sea and the Pacific Ocean. It is usually found on the lower shore and the sublittoral zone to a depth of 50 m on hard surfaces, such as on or under rocks, boulders or in rock crevices
The shell of Acanthochitona fascicularis has an elongate, flat oval shape and is about twice as long as broad. It has a length of up to 60 mm. The color may be variable; being marbled with off-white, gray, yellowish or brown. The eight transverse valves of the shell are strongly arched with a rounded keel and prominent beaks. The keel shows longitudinal ridges and appears coarsely granular due to densely packed, oval or rounded and evenly arranged dorsal papillae. The girdle contains 18 tufts of bristles (maximum length : 1.5 mm), one on each side at the back of the plates. Four of these bristles are arranged around the cephalic plate. The sculpture of the valves consists of a cover with densely packed, backward-pointing spines that are regularly distributed and give a velvety feel when touched. The girdle is fringed with a dense series of longer spines (up to 1 mm). [2]
This species can be confounded with Acanthochitona crinita , but this last one is smaller (about 30 mm) and the granules on the dorsal plates are large, flat topped and pyriform and unevenly spaced.
This chiton is a grazer that feeds on encrusting or filamentous algae and possibly bryozoans.
Chitons are marine molluscs of varying size in the class Polyplacophora, formerly known as Amphineura. About 940 extant and 430 fossil species are recognized.
This glossary of ichthyology is a list of definitions of terms and concepts used in ichthyology, the study of fishes.
Eudoxochiton nobilis, commonly called the noble chiton, is a large chiton of the family Callochitonidae. The Māori name is Rangitīra.
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.
A valve is each articulating part of the shell of a mollusc or another multi-shelled animal such as brachiopods and some crustaceans. Each part is known as a valve or in the case of chitons, a "plate". Members of two classes of molluscs, the Bivalvia (clams) and the Polyplacophora (chitons), have valves.
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.
Mopalia muscosa, the mossy chiton, is a species of chiton, a polyplacophoran, an eight-plated marine mollusk. It is a northeastern Pacific species which occurs from British Columbia, Canada, to Baja California Mexico.
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 marine mollusks belonging to the class Polyplacophora, commonly known as chitons. Species are widely distributed throughout the world's oceans, but are most commonly found in the shallow waters of the Pacific Ocean, from Alaska to Chile.
The hairy chiton is a species of chiton in the family Chaetopleuridae. It is a marine mollusc.
Chaetopleura pertusa, the orange hairy chiton, is a species of chitons in the family Chaetopleuridae. It is a marine mollusc. It is endemic to South Africa.
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 (2.0 in) in length. It is oval shaped with 8 separate, moderately elevated, overlapping ridged valves on its dorsal surface. Hairy chitons can be found along the coast of North America.
Plaxiphora albida, the white Plaxiphora chiton, is a species of chiton in the family Mopaliidae.
Plaxiphora tricolor is a species of chiton in the family Mopaliidae.
Chiton olivaceus, the green chiton, is a species of chiton, a marine polyplacophoran mollusk in the family Chitonidae, the typical chitons.
Acanthochitona bednalli, the Bednall's chiton, is a species of chiton in the family Acanthochitonidae.
Plaxiphora egregia is a distinctive chiton in the family Mopaliidae, endemic to the South Island of New Zealand, where it is uncommon.
Acanthochitona garnoti, the spiny chiton, is a medium-sized polyplacophoran mollusc in the family Acanthochitonidae, found on the coast of southern Africa.
Acanthochitona crinita is a species of marine chiton in the family Acanthochitonidae. It is found on rocky coasts in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.
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.
