Callochiton dentatus

Callochiton dentatus, the broad chiton, is a medium to large-sized polyplacophoran mollusc in the family Callochitonidae,[1] found on the coast of southern Africa.

Callochiton dentatus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Mollusca
Class:
Polyplacophora
Order:
Chitonida
Family:
Callochitonidae
Genus:
Callochiton
Species:
C. dentatus
Binomial name
Callochiton dentatus
Spengler, 1797
Synonyms
  • Chiton dentatus Spengler, 1797
  • Callochiton castaneus (Wood, 1815)
  • Chiton fulgetrum Reeve, 1847

Description

This is a very flat and broad chiton with valves that are dark brown to orange, shiny and finely granulated. The wide girdle is densely covered with very small, elongate scales that produce a velvet-like texture. The margin of each valve contains a diagnostic slit that is visible if the girdle is pulled away. The species reaches a size of 20–50 mm.[2]

Distribution and habitat

C. dentatus occurs along the south coast of Africa, from Cape Columbine in Namibia to the south coast of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. It is uncommon 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. E. Schwabe (2015). "Chiton politus". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  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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