Javier Couper (Predomalpha), New Zealand
Info
Often found in clusters, on cobble or small boulders that are on sand or mud from the high intertidal to 20m.
Leptochiton inquinatus is often found in groups, under small boulders lying on sand or mud from the high intertidal zone down to 20 metres.
This chiton is found throughout New Zealand, but is more common around the North Island.
The beetle snail Ischnochiton maorianus Iredale, 1914 also occurs in the same range.
Beetle snails are not as closely related to snails as one might first assume.
The more than 900 known species of the so-called Polyplacophora are molluscs characterised by their eight calcareous plates (fossil finds sometimes have more).
Synonyms:
Chiton inquinatus Reeve, 1847
Lepidopleurus iredalei Ashby, 1921
Terenochiton inquinatus (Reeve, 1847)
Leptochiton inquinatus is often found in groups, under small boulders lying on sand or mud from the high intertidal zone down to 20 metres.
This chiton is found throughout New Zealand, but is more common around the North Island.
The beetle snail Ischnochiton maorianus Iredale, 1914 also occurs in the same range.
Beetle snails are not as closely related to snails as one might first assume.
The more than 900 known species of the so-called Polyplacophora are molluscs characterised by their eight calcareous plates (fossil finds sometimes have more).
Synonyms:
Chiton inquinatus Reeve, 1847
Lepidopleurus iredalei Ashby, 1921
Terenochiton inquinatus (Reeve, 1847)
