Acanthopleura facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Acanthopleura |
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| A mounted specimen of Acanthopleura spinosa, anterior end to the left | |
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Chitonida
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Acanthopleura
Guilding, 1829
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8, see text. |
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Acanthopleura is a group of amazing sea creatures called chitons. Think of a chiton as a type of marine snail, but with a shell made of eight separate plates. These plates overlap like armor! Acanthopleura chitons are special because their "girdle" – which is the tough, fleshy part around their shell plates – is covered in spines or spikes. There are currently eight main types, or species, of Acanthopleura that scientists know about.
Types of Acanthopleura Chitons
Scientists have found many different types of Acanthopleura chitons. The World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) lists several of these fascinating creatures. Each one has unique features, but they all share the spiky girdle that gives them their name.
Here are some of the known species in the Acanthopleura group:
- Acanthopleura brevispinosa (discovered by Sowerby in 1840)
- Acanthopleura echinata (discovered by Barnes in 1824)
- Acanthopleura gemmata (discovered by de Blainville in 1825)
- Acanthopleura granulata (discovered by Gmelin in 1791)
- Acanthopleura loochooana (discovered by Broderip & Sowerby in 1829)
- Acanthopleura planispina (discovered by Bergenhayn in 1933)
- Acanthopleura spinosa (discovered by Bruguiere in 1792)
- Acanthopleura vaillantii (discovered by de Rochebrune in 1882)
- Acanthopleura hirtosa
- Acanthopleura gaimardi (discovered by Blainville in 1825)
See also
In Spanish: Acanthopleura para niños
