Chitin facts for kids

The entire exterior of a grasshopper is chitin.

Chitin is a natural material that is a very important part of many living things. It's a bit like a tough, clear plastic. You can find chitin in the hard outer shells of animals like crabs and insects. It also makes up the walls of fungi cells, like those in mushrooms.

Chitin helps these creatures stay safe and keep their shape. It's also used in some helpful ways by people, like in medicine and industry.

What is Chitin?

Chitin is a type of polysaccharide. This is a long chain of sugar molecules linked together. It's similar to cellulose, which is found in plants. But chitin is much stronger and more flexible. It gives support and protection to many different organisms.

Where is Chitin Found?

Chitin is found in many places in nature. It is a key building block for several groups of living things.

Animal Armor: Exoskeletons

Many animals have a hard outer covering called an exoskeleton. This exoskeleton acts like a suit of armor. Chitin is the main material that makes up these exoskeletons.

Insects and Crustaceans

Think about a beetle or a crab. Their hard shells are made of chitin. This material protects them from danger. It also helps them keep their shape. Without chitin, these animals would be soft and floppy.

• Crustaceans: These include animals like crabs, lobsters, and shrimp. Their tough shells are full of chitin.
• Insects: From tiny ants to large butterflies, all insects have chitin in their outer bodies. It forms their wings, legs, and body segments.

A butterfly's head and chest are covered with plates of hard chitin, while the abdomen is covered with soft chitin. The wings also are a chitinous membrane.

Fungi Cell Walls

Did you know that fungi also use chitin? Fungi are not plants or animals. They have special structures called cell walls. These walls give fungi their shape and strength. The cell walls of fungi, like mushrooms, are made of chitin. This is different from plant cell walls, which are made of cellulose.

Mollusc and Cephalopod Parts

Chitin is also found in some interesting parts of other animals.

• Molluscs: Many molluscs, like snails, have a special scraping tongue called a radula. This radula is made of chitin. It helps them scrape food.
• Cephalopods: Animals like squid and octopuses are cephalopods. Their sharp beaks are made of chitin. These beaks help them catch and eat their prey.

Images for kids

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  A close-up of the wing of a leafhopper; the wing is composed of chitin.

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  A cicada emerges from its chitinous nymphal exoskeleton.

See also

In Spanish: Quitina para niños