Mopalia mucosa

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mopalia mucosa is a species of chiton, a polyplacophoran, an 8-plated marine mollusk.

Mopalia mucosa surrounded by contracted sea anemones, in a tidepool in Central California. The anterior end of the animal is to the left.

[edit] Distribution

This chiton is a northeastern Pacific species which occurs from British Columbia, Canada, to Baja California Mexico.

[edit] Habitat

This species is found in the middle and lower intertidal zone on exposed rocky shores.

[edit] Description

This chiton can be 40 to 55 mm in length (about 2 and 1/4 inches). In life it is quite often covered with growths of algae such that it is difficult or impossible to really see the plates. The girdle is covered in coarse hair-like bristles or "setae". The eight shelly plates are brown or dark grey, and are a turquoise blue on the inner surfaces.

A small specimen of Mopalia mucosa covered in and surrounded by encrusting Lithothamnion red alga

[edit] References

[edit] Books

Marine Shells of Southern California 1978, James H. McLean, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Science Series 24, Revised Edition 1-104

[edit] External links

Some photos: [1]

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