Chiton politus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Mollusca
Class:
Polyplacophora
Order:
Chitonida
Family:
Chitonidae
Genus:
Chiton
Subgenus:
Chiton (Rhyssoplax)
Species:
C. politus
Binomial name
Chiton politus
Spengler, 1797
Synonyms
  • Chiton (Rhyssoplax) politus Spengler, 1797
  • Chiton tulipa Quoy & Gaimard, 1835 (fide Kaas & Knudsen 1992)

Chiton politus, the tulip chiton, is a medium-sized polyplacophoran mollusc in the family Chitonidae,[1] found on the coast of southern Africa.

Description

The species can display a variety of shell patterns consisting of brown patches and zigzags on smooth pink valves. The central section of each valve often has a striped pattern. The girdle is covered with smooth, overlapping scales and also striped. Average adult length is 30–40 mm.[2]

Distribution and habitat

C. politus occurs along the south coast of Africa, from Cape Columbine in Namibia to the south coast of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. It is quite common and can usually be found as solitary individuals under rocks near the low tide mark.[2] The original description by Lorenz Spengler recorded it at the Cape of Good Hope.[3]

References

  1. ↑ B. Marshall, E. Schwabe (2015). "Chiton politus". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  2. 1 2 Branch, G. M.; Griffiths, C. L.; Branch, M. L.; Beckley, L. E. (2010). Two Oceans: a Guide to the Marine Life of Southern Africa. Cape Town: Struik Nature.
  3. ↑ Spengler, L. (1790). "Beskrivelse og Oplysning over den hindindtil lidet udarbeidede Sloegt af mangeskallede Konchylier som Linnaeus har kaldet Lepas med tilfoiede nye og ubeskrevne Arter". Skrivter Af Naturhistorie-Selskabet. 1 (1): 158–212.
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