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". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
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". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 28 December 2016.

[2oceans-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.