Giant chiton

giant chiton
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Polyplacophora
Subclass: Neoloricata
Order: Chitonida
Superfamily: Chitonoidea
Family: Chaetopleuridae
Genus: Dinoplax
Species: D. gigas
Binomial name
Dinoplax gigas
(Gmelin, 1791)

The giant chiton, Dinoplax gigas, is a species of chiton in the family Chaetopleuridae.[1] It is a marine mollusc.

Contents

Distribution

This species is found around the South African coast from the Cape Peninsula to Durban, subtidally to at least 5m.[2]

Description

The giant chiton is large, growing up to 120 mm in total length, and has strongly arched grey or brown valves. The girdle is brown, spotted with black and has tufts of short hairs.[3]

Ecology

This species hides under rocks during the day but emerges at night.

References

  1. ^ http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php search term Dinoplax accessed 7 April 2010
  2. ^ Branch, G.M., Branch, M.L, Griffiths, C.L. and Beckley, L.E (2005): Two Oceans: a guide to the marine life of southern Africa ISBN 0-86486-672-0
  3. ^ Kilburn, R. and Rippey, E. Sea Shells of Southern Africa MacMillan South Africa 1982 ISBN 0-86954-094-7