Dinoplax gigas
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Dinoplax gigas | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Giant chiton Dinoplax gigas at Windmill Beach, Simon's Town, in False Bay | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Polyplacophora |
| Order: | Chitonida |
| Family: | Chaetopleuridae |
| Genus: | Dinoplax |
| Species: | D. gigas |
| Binomial name | |
| Dinoplax gigas (Gmelin, 1791) | |
Dinoplax gigas, the giant chiton, is a species of chiton in the family Chaetopleuridae.[1] It is a marine mollusc.
Dinoplax gigas normally reach a length of about 110 millimetres (4.3 in), but exceptionally may grow up to 170 millimetres (6.7 in). These large chitons are elongate, oval, carinate and moderately elevated. They have strongly arched grey or brown valves. The leathery girdle is greyish or brown, spotted with black and has tufts of short hairs.[2][3]
Ecology
This species hides under rocks during the day but emerges at night.
