Chiton
Mollusca – Polyplacophora
Distribution:
Chitons or polyplacophorans, are adapted for life on rocky surfaces in the wave-washed intertidal zone. They are oval in shape, having eight separate shell plates (resembling and functioning as armour) that overlap to protect the chiton’s back. A tough, scaly tissue called the girdle surrounds this shell. Lacking eyes and tentacles, these vegetarians use their radula (rasping tongue) to scrape algae off rocks.
Did you know?
Normally clinging tightly to rocks with its broad muscular foot, a chiton can roll up into a ball to protect itself if dislodged by a bird, crab or fish.
In This Section
- Chordates – Animals with backbones
- Invertebrates – Animals without backbones
- Abalone
- Acorn barnacle
- Baler shell
- Blue button sea jelly
- Bluebottle
- Bryozoan
- Bubbler crabs and sand balls
- Chiton
- Cone shell
- Coral
- Cowry shell
- Crab
- Cuttlebone
- Goose barnacle
- Hermit crabs
- Horned ghost crab (Manburr)
- Limpet
- Mud crab
- Mussel
- Periwinkle
- Pipi
- Ram’s horn shell
- Razor clam
- Sand dollars
- Scallop
- Sea hare
- Sea hares
- Sea jelly
- Sea star
- Sea urchin
- Silver-lip pearl oyster
- Sponge
- Tube worm
- Turban snail
- Violet snail
- Marine Pests
- Seagrasses and Algae
- Unusual Finds