Chitonidae

Chitonidae is a large and diverse family of marine mollusks belonging to the order Polyplacophora, commonly known as chitons. These fascinating creatures are characterized by their unique, eight-plated shell that covers their dorsal surface, resembling a small, armored turtle. They inhabit a wide range of marine environments, from intertidal zones to deep-sea environments, playing an important ecological role as grazers and contributing to the overall health of their respective ecosystems.

Pink Spotted Jacket Tonicia – Tonicia calbucensis

Tonicia schrammi

Tonicia lebruni

Chiton Linsleyi – Rhyssoplax linsleyi

Rhyssoplax diaphora

Chiton barnesii

Acanthopleura testudo

Vaillant’s Spiny Chiton – Acanthopleura vaillantii

West Indian Fuzzy Chiton – Acanthopleura granulata

Acanthopleura gemmata

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Common Names

Chitons are commonly referred to as sea cradles, coat-of-mail shells, or simply chitons. These names reflect their distinctive, segmented shell structure that resembles a coat of armor.

Characteristics

Chitonidae exhibit several key characteristics that distinguish them from other marine mollusks. Their most striking feature is their dorsal shell, composed of eight overlapping plates called valves. These valves are connected by a flexible girdle, which allows the chiton to curl up into a ball when threatened, protecting its soft underbelly.

The underside of a chiton's body is known as the foot, a muscular structure used for locomotion and clinging to rocks. Chitons are primarily herbivorous, using their radula, a rasping tongue-like structure, to scrape algae from surfaces.

Chitonidae are also known for their remarkable sensory abilities. They possess a pair of eyes at the anterior end of their body, as well as numerous sensory organs on the girdle, known as aesthetes, which help them detect changes in their environment.

Environments

Chitons inhabit a variety of marine environments worldwide, including:

  • Intertidal zones: Chitons can be found clinging to rocks in the intertidal zone, exposed to the ebb and flow of tides.
  • Subtidal zones: Some chiton species inhabit subtidal zones, living on rocky substrates below the low tide mark.
  • Deep-sea environments: Certain chiton species have adapted to survive in the deep-sea, where they may be found clinging to coral reefs or other hard substrates.

References

Chitonidae on Wikipedia

Chitonidae on World Register of Marine Species