Acanthochitona thileniusi

Taxobox
name = "Acanthochitona thileniusi"


image_width =
status =
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Mollusca
classis = Polyplacophora
ordo = Chitonida
subordo = Acanthochitonina
superfamilia = Cryptoplacoidea
familia = Acanthochitonidae
genus = "Acanthochitona"
species = "A. thileniusi"
binomial = "Acanthochitona thileniusi"
binomial_authority = (Thiele, 1909)
synonyms = "Acanthochites thileniusi" Thiele, 1909

"Acanthochitona thileniusi" is a very rare species of chiton in the family Acanthochitonidae.

Distribution

This species is endemic to Tauranga Harbour in New Zealand.

Habitat

The only examples of this rare chiton were found on a sandbank at the centre of tauranga harbour.

Description

The shell is similar to "Acanthochitona zelandica", but the girdle spicules are stronger, and the sutural tufts much shorter and thicker. The tail valve is much broader than it is deep.

Length is up to 20.5 mm, and width up to 10.5 mm.

References

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