Giant Gem Chiton (species: Acanthopleura gemmata) in taxonomy (Gaia Guide)
Animalia > Bilateria > Protostomia > Lophozoa > Mollusca > Polyplacophora > Neoloricata > Chitonida > Chitonina > Chitonoidea > Chitonidae > Acanthopleurinae > Acanthopleura > Acanthopleura gemmata (gallery)
Acanthopleura gemmata
Giant Gem Chiton


©Enrico Schwabe: Acanthopleura gemmata.

©Anne: Acanthopleura gemmata at Lizard Island

©Anne: Acanthopleura gemmata at Lizard Island, on same rock as other photographed specimen

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Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Mollusca
Class Polyplacophora
Order Chitonida
Family Chitonidae
Genus Acanthopleura
Species Acanthopleura gemmata
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Colours

                                            

Distinguishing features

This is the common large chiton in the Lizard Island area, found clinging tightly to intertidal rocks. Eight broad, slightly arched valves are surrounded by heavy, spiky girdle tissue.

Size

  • Up to 9 cm (Length)

Synonyms

Comments

Chitons have received little attention from researchers at Lizard Island and few species are recorded. Mather and Bennett (1993) list numerous species from the southern Great Barrier Reef, some of which are small and inconspicuous. There are certainly more to be discovered at Lizard Island.

by Anne Hoggett

Distribution


©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution

Web resources

References

  • Czechura, G. (2013). The Great Barrier Reef: A Queensland Museum Discovery Guide Queensland Museum, Brisbane.
  • Mather, P. and I. Bennett (1993). A Coral Reef Handbook: A guide to the geology, flora and fauna of the Great Barrier Reef Surrey Beatty and Sons Pty Ltd, Chipping Norton NSW. ISBN: 0-949324-47-7.
  • Robertson, R. (1981). List of shell-bearing mollusks observed and collected at Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef, Australia, Tryonia, 4: 1-32. LIRS catalog number 403.