Ischnochiton australis
Scientific name: Ischnochiton australis
Click to enlarge image
Chiton, Ischnochiton sp.
Image: Dr Isobel Bennett
© Australian Museum
© Australian Museum
Fast Facts
-
Classification
- Genus
- Ischnochiton
- Species
- australis
- Family
- Ischnochitonidae
- Super Family
- Chitonoidea
- Suborder
- Chitonina
- Order
- Chitonida
- Subclass
- Neoloricata
- Class
- Polyplacophora
- Phylum
- Mollusca
- Kingdom
- Animalia
-
- Size Range
- 9 cm
Not only is this the largest chiton found in Sydney, it is also the most common. If you turn a rock over on any rock platform in Sydney, you should find a few. This species congregates in large groups on rocks close to the low-tide mark.
Identification
The shell of this chiton is green-brown and generally not covered in algae, as is the case with some other chiton species in Sydney.
Habitat
Chitons are found on intertidal rocky shores.
Distribution
This chiton species is found in southern Australia.
