This article is about the mollusc class. For the mollusc genus, see Chiton (genus). For other uses, see Chiton (disambiguation).
Not to be confused with chitin.
Chiton
Temporal range: Late Cambrian – Present[1][2]
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A live lined chiton, Tonicella lineata photographed in situ: The anterior end of the animal is to the right.
Scientific classification
Domain:
Eukaryota
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Mollusca
Class:
Polyplacophora Blainville, 1816
Subgroups
See text.
Chitons (/ˈkaɪtɒnz,ˈkaɪtənz/) are marine molluscs of varying size in the class Polyplacophora (/ˌpɒlipləˈkɒfərə/POL-ee-plə-KOF-ər-ə),[3] formerly known as Amphineura.[4] About 940[5][6] extant and 430[7] fossil species are recognized.
They are also sometimes known as sea cradles or coat-of-mail shells or suck-rocks, or more formally as loricates, polyplacophorans, and occasionally as polyplacophores.
Chitons have a shell composed of nine separate shell plates or valves.[3] These plates overlap slightly at the front and back edges, and yet articulate well with one another. Because of this, the shell provides protection at the same time as permitting the chiton to flex upward when needed for locomotion over uneven surfaces, and even allows the animal to curl up into a ball when dislodged from rocks.[8] The shell plates are encircled by a skirt known as a girdle.
^Cite error: The named reference Runnegar1974 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Cite error: The named reference LesleyCherns2007 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ abChisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Chiton" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 6 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 247–251.
^"Polyplacophora". Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
^Schwabe, E (2005). "A catalogue of recent and fossil chitons (Mollusca: Polyplacophora) addenda". Novapex. 6: 89–105.
^Stebbins, T.D.; Eernisse, D.J. (2009). "Chitons (Mollusca: Polyplacophora) known from benthic monitoring programs in the Southern California Bight". The Festivus. 41: 53–100.
^Puchalski, S.; Eernisse, D.J.; Johnson, C.C. (2008). "The effect of sampling bias on the fossil record of chitons (Mollusca, Polyplacophora)". American Malacological Bulletin. 25: 87–95. doi:10.4003/0740-2783-25.1.87. S2CID 59485784. Archived from the original on 26 July 2020. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
^Connors, M.J.; Ehrlich, H.; Hog, M.; Godeffroy, C.; Araya, S.; Kallai, I.; Gazit, D.; Boyce, M.; Ortiz, C. (2012). "Three-Dimensional Structure of the Shell Plate Assembly of the Chiton Tonicella Marmorea and Its Biomechanical Consequences". Journal of Structural Biology. 177 (2): 314–328. doi:10.1016/j.jsb.2011.12.019. PMID 22248452.
Chitons (/ˈkaɪtɒnz, ˈkaɪtənz/) are marine molluscs of varying size in the class Polyplacophora (/ˌpɒlipləˈkɒfərə/ POL-ee-plə-KOF-ər-ə), formerly known...
gumboot chiton (Cryptochiton stelleri), also known as the giant western fiery chiton or giant Pacific chiton, is the largest of the chitons, growing...
Chiton glaucus, common name the green chiton or the blue green chiton, is a species of chiton, a marine polyplacophoran mollusk in the family Chitonidae...
Chiton squamosus is a species of chiton, a marine polyplacophoran mollusk in the family Chitonidae, the typical chitons. Chiton squamosus can reach a...
Nuttallina californica, the California spiny chiton, is a species of chiton in the genus Nuttallina. This species can reach a maximum length of 5.1 centimetres...
Mopalia muscosa, the mossy chiton, is a species of chiton, a polyplacophoran, an eight-plated marine mollusk. It is a northeastern Pacific species which...
commonly known as the flame lined chiton or Loki's chiton, is a chiton in the lined chiton genus Tonicella. Like most chitons in this genus, T. lokii has blue...
Lepidochitona cinerea, known by the common names common chiton or gray chiton, is a species of chiton, a marine polyplacophoran mollusc in the family Tonicellidae...
Greece included a wide variety of styles but primarily consisted of the chiton, peplos, himation, and chlamys. Ancient Greek civilians typically wore two...
Giant chiton is a common name for several chitons and may refer to: Cryptochiton stelleri, native to the North Pacific ocean Dinoplax gigas, native to...
Chiton magnificus, the liquorice sea cradle, is a Southeast Pacific species of edible chiton, a marine polyplacophoran mollusk in the family Chitonidae...
The hairy chiton (Chaetopleura papilio) is a species of chiton in the family Chaetopleuridae. It is a marine mollusc. This species is found from the central...
black Katy chiton, black Leather chiton, black chiton, or leather chiton, (Kasuqix in the indigenous Aleut language), is a species of chiton in the family...
undocaerulea, commonly known as the blue lined chiton, is a species of chiton. The blue-lined chiton features a head plate adorned with zigzagging white...
Chiton tuberculatus, the West Indian green chiton, is a species of chiton, a marine polyplacophoran mollusk in the family Chitonidae, the typical chitons...
context, it could be called a palla. It should not be confused with the Ionic chiton, which was a piece of fabric folded over and sewn together along the longer...
Chiton olivaceus, the green chiton, is a species of chiton, a marine polyplacophoran mollusk in the family Chitonidae, the typical chitons. Chiton olivaceus...
West Indian fuzzy chiton (also known as Curbs or Sea Cradles), is a medium-sized tropical species of chiton. This type of chiton's activity does not depend...
collar, leaving a diagonal seam from underarm to collarbone.. The ancient Chiton was a tunic worn by men and women of ancient Greece and Rome that fastened...
a chiton and/or peplos, but was made of heavier drape and played the role of a cloak or shawl. When the himation was used alone, without a chiton, it...
Chaetopleura pertusa, the orange hairy chiton, is a species of chitons in the family Chaetopleuridae. It is a marine mollusc. It is endemic to South Africa...
pelliserpentis is a species of chiton in the family Chitonidae. As the species name suggests, the surface of the girdle in this chiton has a pattern of overlaying...
scallops, oysters etc.), Cephalopoda (octopus and squid), and Polyplacophora (chitons). Many species of molluscs are eaten worldwide, either cooked or raw. Some...
commonly known as the lined chiton, is a species of chiton from the North Pacific. Tonicella lineata is a very colorful chiton, having blue, purple or black...
butterfly chiton, is a species of chiton, a marine polyplacophoran mollusc in the family Acanthochitonidae. Cryptoconchus porosus is a large chiton reaching...
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