Rhyssoplax canaliculata

Taxobox
name = "Rhyssoplax canaliculata"


image_width =
status =
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Mollusca
classis = Polyplacophora
ordo = Chitonida
subordo = Chitonina
superfamilia = Chitonoidea
familia = Chitonidae
genus = "Rhyssoplax"
species = "R. canaliculata"
binomial = "Rhyssoplax canaliculata"
binomial_authority = (Quoy and Gaimard, 1835)
synonyms = "Chiton canaliculatus" Quoy and Gaimard, 1835

"Rhyssoplax canaliculata" is a species of chiton in the family Chitonidae.

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand.

Habitat

This chiton is found on rocks from low tide to depths of about 65 m, very abundant at about 25 m on oyster beds.

Description

The shell is rather small, narrowly ovate, elevated, and subcarinated along the dorsal ridge. Sculpture is strong and crisp. The head valve has 20 to 22 flatly nodose, radial ribs, the median valves have sharply raised lateral areas with three to five similar radials, and the tail valve has 12 to 16 granose radials. The central area is deeply and continuously longitudinally grooved, except for a narrow space at the , and 16 to 20 grooves on each side.

Coloration of both the girdle and the valves is bright pink, with a white or black stripe down the dorsal crest.

Length is up to 26 mm, and width up to 15 mm.

References

* Powell A. W. B., "New Zealand Mollusca", William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1979 ISBN 0-00-216906-1