Diaphoroplax biramosus

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Diaphoroplax biramosus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Polyplacophora
Order: Neoloricata
Suborder: Acanthochitonina
Family: Mopaliidae
Genus: Diaphoroplax
Species: D. obtecta
Binomial name
Diaphoroplax biramosus
(Quoy and Gaimard, 1835)
Synonyms

Chiton biramosus Quoy and Gaimard, 1835
Tonica corticata Hutton, 1872
Plaxiphora biramosa Suter, 1913

Diaphoroplax biramosus is a rare species of chiton in the family Mopaliidae.

Contents

[edit] Distribution

This rare species is endemic to the North, South, Chatham, and The Snares islands of New Zealand.

[edit] Habitat

This chiton is found on exposed situations on the open coast, at low tide.

[edit] Description

The shell is large, with broad shallow valves of low profile, and a wide dark red-brown girdle, which is covered with short bristles, as well as longer ones at the sutures and outer margin. The valves are sculptured with granulose radials on the lateral areas, and meandering longitudinal wrinkles over the central area.

Coloration of the valves is light greenish with purplish wavy longitudinal streaks.

Length is up to 60 mm, and the width is up to 40 mm.

[edit] References