Chitons

Chitons Latest News

A groundbreaking new study published recently reveals that chitons grow teeth that aren’t just hard; they’re harder than stainless steel, zirconium oxide, and even human enamel.

About Chitons

• They are flattened, bilaterally symmetrical marine invertebrates. 
• Chitons belong to the phylum Mollusca (along with sea snails, sea slugs, and bivalves).
• Chitons occur only in marine habitats. They are worldwide in distribution but most abundant in warm regions.
• The approximately 600 species are usually placed in the class Placophora, Polyplacophora, or Loricata.

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Chitons Features

• Chitons are usually oval in shape. 
• They vary in appearance and can be found in shades of grey and brown, red, green, and pink.
• On the dorsal (upper) surface is a row of eight overlapping plates surrounded or covered by a tough girdle. 
• Chitons use a large, flat foot for creeping along and clinging to rocks; they also have a well-developed radula (filelike structure) with which to scrape algae and other plant food from rocks. 
• On either side of the foot is a groove containing the gills.
• About 5 cm (2 inches) is the maximum length of most chitons.
• Chitons are very flexible and can fit snugly into rock crevices or curl into a ball when detached. 
• They can also adhere so firmly to rocks that they may be injured when pried loose.
• Life span typically ranges from a few years to 20 years.
• Most are nocturnal in habit.

Source: TOI