Kingdom Animalia Family Chaetopleuridae Scientific name Dinoplax gigas Rank Species Subclass Neoloricata | Superfamily Chitonoidea Genus Dinoplax Phylum Mollusca Order Chitonida | |
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Similar Gumboot chiton, Plaxiphora, Ischnochiton, Placiphorella, Notoplax | ||
Hermit crabs feed on giant chiton in california tide pools mos beach
The giant chiton, Dinoplax gigas, is a species of chiton in the family Chaetopleuridae. It is a marine mollusc.
Contents
Description
Dinoplax gigas normally reach a length of about 110 millimetres (4.3 in), but exceptionally may grow up to 170 millimetres (6.7 in). These large chitons are elongate, oval, carinate and moderately elevated. They have strongly arched grey or brown valves. The leathery girdle is greyish or brown, spotted with black and has tufts of short hairs.
Ecology
This species hides under rocks during the day but emerges at night.
Distribution
This species is found around the South African coast from the Cape Peninsula to Durban, subtidally to at least 5 m.
References
Giant chiton Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA