Chiton politus, the tulip chiton, is a medium-sized polyplacophoran mollusc in the family Chitonidae,[1] found on the coast of southern Africa.
| Chiton politus | |
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| Subgenus: | Chiton (Rhyssoplax)
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| Species: | C. politus
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| Chiton politus Spengler, 1797
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Description edit
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 edit
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 edit
- ^ B. Marshall, E. Schwabe (2015). "Chiton politus". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
- ^ a b 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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