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Sérgio P. Ávila, Julia Sigwart
Zookeys
Figures 1–9.Shallow polyplacophorans from the Azores. 1–2 Hanleya hanleyi (Bean in Thorpe, 1844), DBUA 551 (Flores, Porto da Baleia) 3–4 Lepidochitona cf. canariensis (Thiele, 1909), DBUA 356 (Formigas Islets, intertidal) 5 Lepidochitona piceola (Shuttleworth, 1853), DBUA 743 (São Miguel Island, Baía do Rosto do Cão, intertidal) 6–7 Lepidochitona simrothi (Thiele, 1902), DBUA 459 (Pico, Lajes do Pico, intertidal) 8 Tonicella rubra (Linnaeus, 1767), DBUA 891 (D. João de Castro seamount, 20 m depth) 9 Acanthochitona fascicularis (Linnaeus, 1767), DBUA 667 (Pico, Lajes do Pico, 0–6 m depth).
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Note the hole above the Chiton (also the eight dorsal plates) which was the place where the 5 "teeth" (Aristotle's Lantern) used to be.
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Today I specifically set out to pay attention to things I often pass over (foolishly) in my quest for slugs. This chiton is one I learned from
Ron Wolf's photos. Previously, I would have just called it a Lined Chiton and moved on, but the zigzag stripes on the "head" valve distinguish this one. Anything named after the Norse god of deception deserves recognition.
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Moss Beach, California, United States
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One of the prettiest of the chitons, in my opinion. You have to search for this one but if you look in the right places, you will enjoy the colors seen. Your camera will pick up on the colors more than seeing it in person. It feeds primarily on pink coralline algae. Its main enemies are the purple sea star (Pisaster ochraceus). The color is known to be modified by diet as they are pinker when eating corraline algae and greenish when feasting on diatoms. ID from Intertidal Invertebrates of the Monterey Bay Area by Marlin Harms.
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2005 California Academy of Sciences
CalPhotos
Herbivore found on crustose and erect coralline algae, its major food and the source of its pigment. 15 mm long, 10 m deep. Its scraping organ, the radula, contains magnetite, hard enough to scrape the corallines. The chitons are broadcast spawners with external fertilization.
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1999 California Academy of Sciences
CalPhotos
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2008 California Academy of Sciences
CalPhotos
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This Tonicella lineata was under a rock, seen in early morning light. Note the variation in plate color compared to above picture. This would conform to the classic Tonicella lineata (see note above) Photographed at San Simeon, CA by Dave Cowles. About 3-4 cm long.
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Tonicella insignis crawling on coralline algae. Photo by Kirt Onthank, August 2007
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Another individual. Dave Cowles, San Simeon, CA 4-97
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Tonicella insignis--underwater photo (Photo by: Aaron Baldwin)
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2009 California Academy of Sciences
CalPhotos