Chiton glaucus

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Chiton glaucus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Polyplacophora
Order: Chitonida
Suborder: Chitonina
Superfamily: Chitonoidea
Family: Chitonidae
Genus: Chiton
Species: C. glaucus
Binomial name
Chiton glaucus
(Gray, 1828)
Synonyms

Amaurochiton glaucus Tom Iredale, 1914

Chiton glaucus, or the green chiton, is a species of chiton, a marine mollusk, a polyplacophoran in the family Chitonidae, the typical chitons.

This is New Zealand's most common chiton.

Contents

[edit] Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand.

[edit] Habitat

This species is found intertidally.

[edit] Shell description

The shell, consisting of 8 valves surrounded by a girdle, is moderately large, ovate, high arched, very finely sculptured, the lateral areas scarcely raised. The girdle has prominent scales.

The coloration of this chiton is variable, ranging from buff to very dark green, sometimes with a darker pattern of chevrons and zigzag lines.

The length of this chiton is up to 55 mm, and width up to 35 mm.

[edit] References