Chitons are mollusks that have eight overlapping plates on their shells.
Chitons are molluscs of the class Polyplacophora, distinguished by their characteristic shells, which consist of eight overlapping plates. The creatures are found widely throughout the world, and fossil evidence suggests that they have been around for a long time. If you’re interested in seeing some chitons for yourself, the tidal surge is a great way to spot these unique animals, as they tend to prefer the intertidal zone. Chitons can also be found in deeper water in some cases, but they are exclusively marine so will never be found in fresh water.
Starfish often feast on chitons.
Like other mollusks, much of the chiton’s body is a large, muscular foot, surrounded by gills and a protective shell. The animals crawl along rocks with their feet, scraping algae and other forms of nutrition off the rocks. A chiton is roughly oblong in shape, and the animals can be very difficult to spot, as many have protective coloration that helps them blend in with rocks. Others are radiant and very colorful; The creatures come in a wide range of colors and sizes.
Crabs can feed on chitons.
In some regions of the world, chitons are known by other alternative names, such as loricates, chain mail, and sea litters. Some biologists also refer to them as polyplacaphorans, referring to their classification, which in turn refers to the multiple plates of their shell structures. When removed from their rocky substrate, chitons curl up to protect their sensitive underbelly until they collide with another rock to call home. This defense also makes the animals a less attractive source of potential food.
Gulls may feed on chitons.
A unique variety of chiton, the rubber boot chiton, is covered in a layer of red leather. This coating obscures the shapes of individual plates and makes the animal difficult to distinguish from the colorful algae that line the rocky pools it prefers. Rubber boot chitons can also become quite large, often reaching sizes much larger than the average human hand. The animals were once a food source for Native Americans in the Northwest, thanks to their size.
Hundreds of individual species in a multitude of genera are classified as chitons. A variety of marine animals feed on chitons, including starfish. Starfish snatch animals from the rock, using their variety of tube feet to prevent the chiton from becoming entangled. Crabs, fish, and sometimes seagulls also eat chitons in addition to sea anemones.