Sypharochiton sinclairi

Taxobox
name = "Sypharochiton sinclairi"


image_width =
status =
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Mollusca
classis = Polyplacophora
ordo = Chitonida
subordo = Chitonina
superfamilia = Chitonoidea
familia = Chitonidae
genus = "Sypharochiton"
species = "S. sinclairi"
binomial = "Sypharochiton sinclairi"
binomial_authority = (Gray, 1843)
synonyms = "Chiton sinclairi" Gray, 1843

"Sypharochiton sinclairi" is a species of chiton in the family Chitonidae.

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand (but not the Chatham Islands). It is New Zealand's most common chiton.

Habitat

This chiton is found under stones and in rock pools, at the lower tidal level.

Description

The shell is similar to "Sypharochiton pelliserpentis", but with the radial sculpture minus nodules and the central area devoid of longitudinal ribbing. It is narrower than "pelliserpentis" and unless eroded, has a highly polished surface.

Coloration is pale greenish, longitudinally, irregularly streaked with dark green.

Length is up to 28 mm, and width up to 18 mm.

References

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