Chitons: Polyplacophora - Physical Characteristics, Behavior And Reproduction, Gumboot Chiton (cryptochiton Stelleri): Species Accounts, Veiled Chiton (placiphorella Velata): Species Accounts - GEOGRAPHIC RANGE, HABITAT, DIET, CHITONS AND PEOPLE, CONSERVA
found eat
Chitons are found along seashores worldwide but are most common in cooler waters.
Chitons live on hard surfaces, especially rocks. They are found from the seashore to depths of more than 13,123 feet (4,000 meters).
Chitons eat many kinds of algae (AL-jee). Placiphorella velata preys on worms and small crustaceans.
Native Americans living along the Pacific Coast of North America used to eat the gumboot chiton, Cryptochiton stelleri. The remains of their valves are commonly found in their ancient trash heaps.
No species of chiton is considered threatened or endangered.
Additional Topics
Chitons (KI-tons) are flattened mollusks that are egg-shaped in outline. They have eight distinct and overlapping shell plates, or valves, across their backs. The valves are layered, with each layer made up of mostly calcium carbonate. Each valve is usually shaped like a butterfly. A ring of tissue surrounds or sometimes covers the entire body. This tissue is the margin of the mantle. As in other …
Most chitons feed by scraping food off rocks with their radula. Others eat large species of algae, such as kelp. Predatory species use a special flap on the mantle near their head to capture small animals. Most species usually feed at night. Species living along the shore remain in one place when exposed to the air by low tides. Chitons have few defenses. If pulled off their rocks, some species wi…
Physical characteristics: This is the largest chiton in the world, measuring up to 13 inches (330 millimeters) in length and 5 inches (130 millimeters) across. It resembles a brick-red meatloaf. Its large size and color distinguish this species from other chitons. The leathery and reddish mantle wraps around the entire body and hides all of the valves. It is covered with bundles of tiny spines. Ge…
Physical characteristics: This species is distinguished by the girdle around the margins of shell valves, which is greatly expanded toward the front to form a "head flap." The girdle is red and green underneath. The body is up to 1.9 inches (5 centimeters) long, with brown to red shell valves that are short and wide and variously mottled and streaked with green, beige, white, and bro…
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