Tonicella undocaerulea

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Blue lined chiton
Tonicella-undocaerulea.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Polyplacophora
Order: Chitonida
Family: Tonicellidae
Genus: Tonicella
Species:
T. undocaerulea
Binomial name
Tonicella undocaerulea
Sirenko, 1973

Tonicella undocaerulea, commonly known as the blue lined chiton, is a species of chiton.

Contents

Size and description

The blue-lined chiton features a head plate adorned with zigzagging white concentric lines, which may appear blue while the creature is alive, and lacks a dark border. When in its vibrant state, it often exhibits vivid electric blue stripes and specks. The girdle of this chiton is typically hairless and showcases hues ranging from brown to red or pink, often accompanied by mottling in yellow or white. [1]

Similar species

Tonicella lineata is very similar but has a dark border to the concentric blue lines on the anterior plate. Tonicella lokii is also similar but has radiating bands on the girdle. Mopalia spectabilis looks superficially similar due to its bright blue wavy lines on the valves, but has a hairy girdle.

Distribution and habitat

The natural range of T. undocaerulea stretches from Kodiak, Alaska to Point Conception, California. It is commonly found on rocks in low intertidal and shallow subtidal waters. [2]

Biology

This chiton grazes on coralline algae. [2]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chiton</span> Class (Polyplacophora) of marine molluscs

Chitons are marine molluscs of varying size in the class Polyplacophora, formerly known as Amphineura. About 940 extant and 430 fossil species are recognized.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gumboot chiton</span> Species of mollusc

The gumboot chiton, also known as the giant western fiery chiton or giant Pacific 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.

<i>Chiton glaucus</i> Species of mollusc

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.

<i>Cryptoconchus porosus</i> Species of mollusc

Cryptoconchus porosus, the butterfly chiton, is a species of chiton, a marine polyplacophoran mollusc in the family Acanthochitonidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Limpopo girdled lizard</span> Species of lizard

The Limpopo girdled lizard, also known commonly as Jones's armadillo lizard and Jones's girdled lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Cordylidae. The species is endemic to Southern Africa.

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.

<i>Ischnochiton maorianus</i> Species of mollusc

Ischnochiton maorianus, sometimes called the variable chiton, is a fast moving species of chiton in the family Ischnochitonidae, endemic to the main islands of New Zealand where it is abundant.

<i>Acanthochitona zelandica</i> Species of mollusc

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.

<i>Tonicella lineata</i> Species of mollusc

Tonicella lineata, commonly known as the lined chiton, is a species of chiton from the North Pacific.

<i>Mopalia spectabilis</i> Species of mollusc

Mopalia spectabilis, commonly known as the red-flecked mopalia, is a species of chiton.

<i>Tonicella lokii</i> Species of mollusc

Tonicella lokii, commonly known as the flame lined chiton or Loki's chiton, is a chiton in the lined chiton genus Tonicella.

<i>Mopalia muscosa</i> Species of mollusc

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.

<i>Acanthopleura granulata</i>

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Acanthochitonidae</span> Family of molluscs

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.

<i>Mopalia ciliata</i> Species of mollusc

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.

<i>Katharina tunicata</i>

Katharina tunicata is commonly known as the black Katy chiton, black Leather chiton, black chiton, or leather chiton,, is a species of chiton in the family Mopaliidae.

<i>Acanthopleura echinata</i>

Acanthopleura echinata is a Southeast Pacific species of edible chiton, a marine polyplacophoran mollusc in the family Chitonidae, the typical chitons.

<i>Tonicella insignis</i> Species of mollusc

Tonicella insignis, the white-lined chiton, or red chiton, also known as the hidden chiton, belongs to the Tonicellidae family in the class Polyplacophora, and the phylum of Mollusca. Its body length of T. insignis is around 5 cm.

<i>Acanthochitona crinita</i> Species of mollusc

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.

<i>Tonicella marmorea</i> Species of mollusc

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.

References

  1. Baldwin, A. (2007). Illustrated Keys to the chitons (Polyplacophora). Accessed from: "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-20. Retrieved 2007-12-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. 1 2 O'Clair, R.M. and C.E. O'Clair. (1998). Southeast Alaska's Rocky Shores. Plant Press: Auke Bay, Alaska. 563 pp.