ADVERTISEMENTS: 2. Unlike a snail, its shell is segmented instead of a single solid piece. Chiton, any of numerous flattened, bilaterally symmetrical marine mollusks, worldwide in distribution but most abundant in warm regions. They all have 8 interlocking plates surrounded by a muscular girdle. Read about Polyplacophora on the Animal Diversity Web. Body is elliptical and is convex on dorsal and flat on ventral … Chiton definition is - any of a class (Polyplacophora) of elongated bilaterally symmetrical marine mollusks with a dorsal shell of calcareous plates. Lysichiton americanus Yellow Skunk-cabbage Flickr photos above were identified by the individual photographers but not reviewed by EoPS. Chitons are mollusks in the class Polyplacophora, distinguished by their characteristic shells, which consist of eight overlapping plates.The creatures are widely found around the world, and fossil evidence suggests that they have been around for quite a long time. Chiton definition is - any of a class (Polyplacophora) of elongated bilaterally symmetrical marine mollusks with a dorsal shell of calcareous plates. The approximately 600 species are usually placed in the class Placophora, Polyplacophora, or Loricata (phylum Mollusca). [] The gumboot chiton is the largest chiton in the world. Eight overlapping and separate plates form the shell, and the plates are articulated by a fairly complex set of muscles. The diet of chitons consists primarily of algae, phytoplankton, marine moss animals, and bacteria, although some species eat small crustaceans. The underside of the gumboot chiton, Cryptochiton stelleri, showing the foot in the center, surrounded by the mantle.The mouth can be seen on the left of the foot. Chitons are primitive marine molluscs in the class Polyplacophora (formerly the class Amphineura). When exposed to air during low … Like Limpets they are grazers and will feed on films of … The approximately 600 species are usually placed in the class Placophora, Polyplacophora , or Loricata. They are the only molluscs that have magnetite-coated teeth. Is it true that we only use 10 percent of our brains? Their life under the impacts of sea waves is quite severe. The species range from 3 to 430 mm in body length (Salvini-Plawen 1985). any of a class (Polyplacophora) of elongated bilaterally symmetrical marine mollusks with a dorsal shell of calcareous plates… See the full definition. Chitons are untorted, bilaterally symmetrical molluscs with a distinct head and a shell composed of a longitudinal series of eight shingle-like, overlapping plates. The English word "chitin" comes from the French word chitine, which was derived in 1821 from the Greek word χιτών (chiton), meaning covering.. A similar word, "chiton", refers to a marine animal with a protective shell. chiton (kī´tən), common name for rock-clinging marine mollusks of the class Polyplacophora. ADVERTISEMENTS: In this article we will discuss about the structure of Chiton with the help of a diagram. Their size ranges from 0.5 to 30 cm in length; most are quite small. Chiton are marine mollusks in the class of Polyplacophora. The adaptations they have include a wide foot for tight suction of rocks and a shell to protect themselves from drying out. nial animals, or sometimes even ambush and eat mobile animals that come close enough to be trapped. 500 bc) through the Hellenistic period (323–30 bc). Chiton, Greek Chitōn, garment worn by Greek men and women from the Archaic period (c. 750–c. About 800 existing species of chiton are identified. It is a marine animal of cosmopolitan distribution. Etymology. A small oval shell found attached to rocks on the shore. All are rock-dwelling marine molluscs with oval shaped bodies that are flattened from back to front (dorsoventrally). See more. All the living species are in the subclass Neoloricata, and so may be called 'loricates'. Disclaimer: The Animal Diversity Web is an educational resource written largely by and for college students.ADW doesn't cover all species in the world, nor does it include all the latest scientific information about organisms we describe. Chitons Animal All their life forces, shellfish are sent to fight the water element. There are 900 to 1,000 living species of chitons. They are a type of crawling mollusc, a bit like a Limpet, and will move slowly across rocks in search of food. Disclaimer: The Animal Diversity Web is an educational resource written largely by and for college students.ADW doesn't cover all species in the world, nor does it include all the latest scientific information about organisms we describe.