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Snakeskin Chiton
Sypharochiton pelliserpentis
-37.7882, 148.725
Field Notes
Description:
A mollusc with a flattened body and eight distinctive overlapping plates that protect them from predators and crashing waves. This chiton was grey-green in colour, about 63 mm x 35 mm. The girdle encircling the plates had a snake-skin like appearance giving it the common name "snakeskin chiton".
Habitat:
These chitons were found attached to the side of a rock in an intertidal rocky shore (Cape Conran) off the south coast of Victoria facing the Bass Strait. <br>
Occurrence record: <br>
https://bie.ala.org.au/species/urn:lsid:biodiversity.org.au:afd.taxon:3…
Notes:
This species is said to prefer rock surfaces in the mid-tide region, rather than under rocks in lower -or sub-tidal zones. They adhere fast to rock surfaces by their mucus-secreting foot and are difficult to dislodge.
Chitons have radulas , which are raspy tongues, with which they scrape off algae. <br>
Australia has about 150 species of chiton and about 90% are endemic to Australia. <br>
https://australianmuseum.net.au/chitons-class-polyplacophora <br>
Family: Chitonidae
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