#chitons

[eddieintheocean]

Where are my polyplacorphoran fans at

[highways-are-liminal-spaces]

tide pooling after work

[uncharismatic-fauna]

Uncharismatic Fact of the Day

Most people fear going to the dentist, but dentists themselves bow down to the mighty chiton! These slug-like marine invertebrates have some of the strongest teeth in the world-- at least three times harder than human enamal-- and are lined with hard minerals like iron and silicate compounds which enable them to scrape minute bits of algae off of bare rock.

(Image: A gumboot chiton (Cryptochiton stelleri) by Sara Wickam)

If you like what I do, consider buying me a ko-fi!

[taxonomytournament]

Taxonomy Tournament: Molluscs

Polyplacophora. This class is made up of chitons, marine creatures that live under rocks. Their shells are made up of eight plates, protecting them while also allowing them to flex upwards or curl into a ball.

Pteriomorphia. This subclass is made up of bivalves with large gills used for feeding and rudimentary photoreceptors. Memebrs include mussels, scallops, oysters and pen shells

[sitting-on-me-bum]

That’s Wild: Chitons’ Eye Evolution 

Chitons are small marine mollusks with shells made of overlapping plates, like armor, covered with light-sensitive cells that act as their eyeballs. Some chitons have hundreds of complex "shell eyes,” which have lenses that can distinguish shapes as well as light, embedded in their shells. Other chitons have thousands of smaller, simpler “eyespots” that work together like pixels to form a visual sensor distributed over their shells. 

By Matt Knoth

Center for Biological Diversity

[dougdimmadodo]

Blue-Green Chiton (Chiton glaucus)

Family: Typical Chiton Family (Chitonidae)

IUCN Conservation Status: Unassessed

Like other chitons, the Blue-Green Chiton is a heavily armoured eyeless mollusc related to marine snails which relies on its strong aragonite-based shell to defend it from potential predators as it slides slowly along on a frilly "foot", clinging to surfaces beneath it as it travels using a layer of thin-yet-sticky mucus and the suction-cup-like shape formed by the foot's frilly rim. Although they lack any conventional eyes, the 8 armoured plates of a chiton contain numerous lens-like structures (also made of aragonite) which focus light onto a retina-like membrane, allowing the chiton to perceive light and possibly basic shapes above them in order to identify potential predators, giving them an opportunity to grip more tightly onto the surface beneath them to prevent them from being flipped over to expose their unarmoured underbelly (although if this does happen they are also able to curl up in order to leave as little of their foot exposed as possible.) Found in coastal and estuarine waters surrounding New Zealand and Tasmania, Blue-Green Chitons spend much of the day concealed in rocky cracks or under large stones and emerge at night to feed, using a spiny tongue-like structure that extends from their tiny downwards-facing mouths to scrape algae off of the rocks beneath them. The name of this species refers to the variety of colours seen on the shells of different individuals; while typically dull green, individuals with blue, yellow or pale brown shells are also frequently reported.

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Image Source: Here

Also see here for a very cool video explaining how chiton "eyes" work.

[i-rate-ecoregions]

So, apparently, Chitons have hundreds of tiny organs on their shells that, when used together, actually form a single compound eye.

[ttsquid]

a bunch (3) of molluscs ive learnt about recently

[ziphos123]

After falling in love with great kilt I really hope that structureless garments make a major comeback

[rattyexplores]

Chitons snuggled between the rocks for moisture

These creatures, which at first may be mistaken for barnacles or oysters, are a type of primitive mollusc, with fossil records dating back 400 million years ago.

Their appearance is quite odd, with a series of plates running down their backs, and a tough tissue surrounding them. If you were to detach one of these creatures from a rock (a very hard feat mind you), you’ll notice the underside is quite similar to that of a limpet snail.

Although the specimens pictured have a rather dull appearance, there are species of chiton that are quite colorful, like the Flame-lined Chiton.

Unidentified, Family Chitonidae

15/06/22

[heroineimages]

I mean, in the actual myth Heracles killed her (albeit due to Hera's curse driving him mad), so it strikes me as fair.

Finally moving on to the unofficial Disney ladies with Megara! So fantastically simple to research, just put her in a simple doric chiton and spent most of my time researching fabric colours and patterns to see what I could get away with. It kinda looks like she killed Hercules and took his helmet? I’m okay with that.

-C

See the rest of the series HERE Read the FAQ HERE Buy prints HERE

[bassprideshops]

Tidepool time!

The leather chiton (Katharina tunicata), member of Ye Olde Snail Club.

[bedupolker]

Did you know that Chiton (specifically the wandering meatloaf chiton) produce the hardest known biologically made material? Their shells are also covered in microscopic lenses that combine to almost make their body into one compound eye. Why they need to look so much, who knows?

[uncharismatic-fauna]

Could I suggest a post about chiton? I feel like even a lot of the more ‘well known’ ones like gumboot, mossy, or lined chiton are animals that most people would say theyd never even heard of, and I think theyre super cool little critters.

Absolutely you can!

You know, when I was a kid I actually thought that smaller chitons were fossils because of the way they looked so completely fused to the rock!

[taxonomytournament]

Taxonomy Tournament: Molluscs

Polyplacophora. This class is made up of chitons, marine creatures that live under rocks. Their shells are made up of eight plates, protecting them while also allowing them to flex upwards or curl into a ball.

Octopoda. This order is made up of octopuses, predatory marine creatures with eight limbs. Their soft body allows them to squeeze trhough small spaces. They are capable of camouflage and are among the most intelligent animals.

[montereybayaquarium]

It was a beach field trip sort of day … 😌🌊💙