Plaxiphora albida
| Plaxiphora albida | |
|---|---|
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| Dorsal surface of specimen from Tasmania on display at the Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Milano. | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Polyplacophora |
| Order: | Chitonida |
| Family: | Mopaliidae |
| Genus: | Plaxiphora |
| Species: | P. albida
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| Binomial name | |
| Plaxiphora albida (Blainville, 1825)
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| Synonyms | |
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List
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Plaxiphora albida, the white Plaxiphora chiton, is a species of chiton in the family Mopaliidae.
Description
The white Plaxiphora chiton reaches a common size of about 95 mm, with a minimum and maximum length of 40–100 millimetres (1.6–3.9 in) and a width of 25–38 millimetres (0.98–1.50 in). The shell of this large chiton is dark green to brown, humped and oval shaped, with eight rough valves. Its girdle is leathery, brown with darker bars and with long bristles.
Species Discovery
This species of Plaxiphora chiton was discovered by Dr. Charles Boyden on wave-exposed rocky shores of New Zealand. It was distinguishable enough from other chitons that it was described as a new species. These chitons do not have bristle-tufts on their girdle, and are low shore chiton[1]. They are also the largest giant chiton species found on Australia’s coasts[2].
Teeth
Plaxiphora albida has radular, bulbous teeth[3]. Their teeth are iron-biomineralized, allowing them to more readily feed on algae attached to hard substrates like rock. Chitons not only feed on algae, but they are able to feed on sponges, corals or tunicates[2]. These molluscs have 17 teeth per row with one pair of those teeth being iron mineralized. Biomineralization strengthens the teeth and prevents mechanical wear, it makes the teeth harder. The tooth size of Plaxiphora albida is similar to that of the chiton species Acanthopleura hirtosa. In a study on mechanical tooth wear in chitons and limpets, P. albida teeth were observed to have had wear, and had more rounded teeth that were stub like. There were also small amounts of silica, presumed to be SiO2 in the teeth, but is not thought to contribute a major role to the structure of their teeth[4].
Distribution and habitat
This species of low-shore chitons is native to south-western Australia, including Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania.
Population Ecology
Plaxiphora albida and Onithochiton quercinus are endemic to Southeast Australia, where they are the most abundant chitons. Both chitons grow to about 80 mm in length and are usually found around the surface of rocky shores that are exposed. The specific community is a low-shore algal type which is most abundant with the species Pyura stolonifera.1 The sex ratio of the chiton is consistently 1:1 for males and females.
References
- ^ "A new species of Plaxiphora (Mollusca: Polyplacophora) from southern New Zealand". www.tandfonline.com. doi:10.1080/00288330.1982.9515960?needaccess=true&role=button. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
- ^ a b https://cdn.environment.sa.gov.au/marine-parks/docs/beach-explorers-guide.pdf
- ^ Macey, D. J.; Brooker, L. R.; Webb, J.; Pierre, T. G. St. (1996-10). "Structural Organisation of the Cusps of the Radular Teeth of the Chiton Plaxiphora albida". Acta Zoologica. 77 (4): 287–294. doi:10.1111/j.1463-6395.1996.tb01274.x.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ SHAW, JEREMY A.; MACEY, DAVID J.; BROOKER, LESLEY R.; CLODE, PETA L. (2010). "Tooth Use and Wear in Three Iron-Biomineralizing Mollusc Species". Biological Bulletin. 218 (2): 132–144. ISSN 0006-3185.
External links
- WoRMS
- Discover Life
- Environment.gov.au
- Molluscs of Tasmania
- Atlas of Living Australia
- N. M. Otway Population ecology of the low-shore chitons Onithochiton quercinus and Plaxiphora albida
- Alasdair P. Lee A new biomineral identified in the cores of teeth from the chiton Plaxiphora albida
- D. J. Macey Structural Organisation of the Cusps of the Radular Teeth of the Chiton Plaxiphora albida
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- ^ Otway, N. M. (1994-12-01). "Population ecology of the low-shore chitons Onithochiton quercinus and Plaxiphora albida". Marine Biology. 121 (1): 105–116. doi:10.1007/BF00349479. ISSN 1432-1793.
- ^ SHAW, JEREMY A.; MACEY, DAVID J.; BROOKER, LESLEY R.; CLODE, PETA L. (2010). "Tooth Use and Wear in Three Iron-Biomineralizing Mollusc Species". Biological Bulletin. 218 (2): 132–144. ISSN 0006-3185.