Chaetopleura
Chaetopleura is a genus of chitons, marine mollusks in the family Chaetopleuridae. Chitons are characterized by their eight overlapping shell plates, known as valves, that cover their dorsal surface. The genus Chaetopleura is notable for its small size and often brightly colored shells.
Common Names
Chaetopleura species are commonly known as "hairy chitons" due to the presence of numerous, hair-like bristles on their mantle, the soft tissue that surrounds their shell. These bristles are often a distinctive feature of the genus.
Characteristics
Chaetopleura species are typically small, with most species reaching lengths of only a few centimeters. Their shells are often oval-shaped and feature a variety of colors and patterns, including shades of brown, green, red, and orange. The bristles on the mantle can be short and sparse or long and dense, depending on the species.
Like other chitons, Chaetopleura species are herbivorous, feeding on algae and other plant material. They use a specialized tongue-like structure called a radula to scrape algae from rocks and other surfaces. They are also known to be highly adapted to their intertidal environments, capable of withstanding periods of exposure to air and sunlight.
Environment
Chaetopleura species are found in marine environments worldwide, primarily in intertidal and subtidal zones. They are often found clinging to rocks, seaweed, and other hard surfaces in areas exposed to wave action.
These chitons prefer rocky shores with a good supply of algae. They can be found in a range of habitats, from the upper intertidal zone, where they are exposed to air during low tide, to the lower intertidal zone, where they are submerged most of the time.