Chiton politus

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

↑ B. Marshall, E. Schwabe (2015). "Chiton politus". World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
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.
↑ 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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[worms-1] B. Marshall, E. Schwabe (2015). "Chiton politus". World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 28 December 2016.

[2oceans-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.