Callochiton crocinus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Callochiton crocinus |
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| Top: terminal valve from dorsal Bottom: animal from dorsal |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: |
Neoloricata
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| Suborder: |
Ischnochitonina
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| Family: |
Callochitonidae
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| Genus: |
Callochiton
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| Species: |
C. crocinus
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| Binomial name | |
| Callochiton crocinus (Reeve, 1847)
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| Synonyms | |
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Numerous, see text |
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Callochiton crocinus is a type of chiton, also known as a "sea cradle." These interesting sea creatures belong to the Callochitonidae family. You can find them living along the coasts of Australia and New Zealand. In some places, people call them "smooth chitons," but this name can be confusing because other chiton species also use it.
This chiton is quite colorful! It often has shades of yellowish to reddish-brown with white spots. Its scientific name, Callochiton crocinus, actually means "saffron-colored beautiful chiton." This name perfectly describes its vibrant look.
Why So Many Names?
Sometimes, scientists give the same animal different names by mistake. This can happen when different researchers discover the same species at different times or in different places. For Callochiton crocinus, its scientific history is a bit complicated because it was described as a "new" species several times!
For example, a scientist named Tom Iredale thought that the small differences he saw in C. crocinus meant they were different species. But it turned out these were just normal variations within the same species. Another scientist, Arthur Adams, gave it a name without realizing it had already been named correctly by someone else.
Here are some of the names that were once used for Callochiton crocinus, but are no longer considered correct:
- Callochiton platessa Suter, 1913
- Chiton crocinus Reeve, 1847
- Chiton versicolor A. Adams, 1852 (This name was already used for a different chiton species)
- Levicoplax platessa (Suter, 1913)
- Paricoplax crocina (Reeve, 1847)
- Paricoplax perscrutanda Iredale & Hull, 1929
