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Class: Polyplacophora
Chitons
Chitons
are snail-like mollusks with a series of eight plates that provide a segmented
shell. The name Polyplacophora comes from the Greek, meaning "bearing many
plates." They are common in intertidal areas where they may lie almost
invisible on the rocks, but there are also many deep water species. All are
marine. They are also small animals, with few species exceeding 1 foot/ 30 cm in
length.
Chitons have distinct mouths
and an anus, a very large foot, huge gonads, and an open circulatory system with
a three-chambered heart.
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| A live chiton
showing the upper (left) and lower surfaces. In the photo at right, the
mouth is visible at the far right end of the foot. The grove around the
foot contains the many gills. Overall length was 8 inches/ 18 cm, and the
specimen was photographed by Dr. Robert Sprackland at the Fitzgerald
Marine Reserve, San Mateo County, California. |
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