Acanthochitona crinita
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Acanthochitona crinita | |
|---|---|
_-_Acanthochitonidae_-_Mollusc_shell.jpeg) | |
| Acanthochitona crinita specimens in Naturalis | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Polyplacophora |
| Order: | Chitonida |
| Family: | Acanthochitonidae |
| Genus: | Acanthochitona |
| Species: | A. crinita |
| Binomial name | |
| Acanthochitona crinita (Pennant, 1777) | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Acanthochitona crinita is a species of marine chiton in the family Acanthochitonidae.[1] It is found on rocky coasts in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.
Acanthochitona crinita is oval, less than half as long as it is wide, and grows to a length of about 34 mm (1.34 in).[2] Like other chitons, it bears a protective shell formed from eight articulating valves on its dorsal surface, these being embedded in a tough muscular girdle.[3][4] The valves in this species are strongly arched with moderately rounded keels, and are finely sculpted longitudinally. The girdle bears 18 tufts of short bristles, four tufts at the front, and one on either side of the junctions between the plates. The dorsal surface is rough, with irregular granulations and fine spines. The colour is very variable, being some shade of grey, fawn, brown, pink, pale green or pale blue, often marbled or streaked.[2]