Chaetopleura pertusa

Chaetopleura pertusa, the orange hairy chiton, is a species of chitons in the family Chaetopleuridae. It is a marine mollusc. It is endemic to South Africa.

Chaetopleura pertusa
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Polyplacophora
Order: Chitonida
Family: Chaetopleuridae
Genus: Chaetopleura
Subgenus: Chaetopleura
Species:
C. pertusa
Binomial name
Chaetopleura pertusa
(Reeve, 1847)
Synonyms[1]

Chiton pertusus Reeve, 1847 (basionym)

Distribution

This species is found around the South African coast from Saldanha Bay to Kosi Bay, subtidally to at least 20 m.[2]

Description

The orange hairy chiton is a distinctive chiton with pink or orange mottled valves. The valves have a granular texture and are surrounded by a wide girdle of pink or orange. The girdle has branched bristles and short hairs. The animal may grow up to 50 mm in total length.[3]

Ecology

The orange hairy chiton lives under rocks during the day but emerges at night.

References

  1. Schwabe, E. (2009). Chaetopleura (Chaetopleura) pertusa (Reeve, 1847). In: Bouchet, P.; Gofas, S.; Rosenberg, G. World Marine Mollusca database. Accessed through the World Register of Marine Species at http://marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=224920 on 2010-04-07
  2. Branch, G.M., Branch, M.L, Griffiths, C.L. and Beckley, L.E (2005): Two Oceans: a guide to the marine life of southern Africa ISBN 0-86486-672-0
  3. Kilburn, R. and Rippey, E. Sea Shells of Southern Africa MacMillan South Africa 1982 ISBN 0-86954-094-7
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.