Cryptoconchus porosus

Cryptoconchus porosus
Cryptoconchus porosus from Auckland, New Zealand
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Polyplacophora
Order: Chitonida
Family: Acanthochitonidae
Genus: Cryptoconchus
Species: C. porosus
Binomial name
Cryptoconchus porosus
(Burrow, 1815)

Cryptoconchus porosus, the butterfly chiton, is a species of chitons, a marine polyplacophoran mollusk in the family Acanthochitonidae.[1][2][3]

The eight interlocking plates of Cryptoconchus porosus. Museum specimen

Synonyms

Cryptoplax depressus Blainville, 1818
Chiton leachi Blainville, 1825
Chiton monticularis Quoy and Gaimard, 1835
Cryptoconchus stewartianus Rochebrune, 1882
Acanthochites porosus Suter, 1913

Description

Cryptoconchus porosus can reach a length of about 45–75 millimetres (1.8–3.0 in).[4][5] The valves are almost completely covered by a fleshy nodular girdle. They have many gills, but no eyes. The shell consist of eight interlocking plates surrounded by the girdle, but young specimens usually have only seven plates. Color of the surface ranges from brown to bright orange, while the underside is often blue.[6]

Distribution and habitat

Cryptoconchus porosus are present in New Zealand [2][7] and Madagascar.[8] These quite common grazers prefer outer exposed rocks in areas of sweeping of the waves, in the low intertidal and shallow subtidal zone.[6]

References


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