Tonicella undocaerulea

Taxobox
name = Blue Lined Chiton

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regnum = Animalia
phylum = Mollusca
classis = Polyplacophora
ordo = Neoloricata
familia = Lepidochitonidae
genus = "Tonicella"
species = "T. undocaerulea"
binomial = "Tonicella undocaerulea"
binomial_authority = Sirenko, 1973
synonyms =

"Tonicella undocaerulea", commonly known as the Blue Lined Chiton, is a species of chiton.

ize and description

The Blue Lined Chiton has a head plate with zigzag white (may be blue when alive) concentric lines without a dark border. It commonly has bright electric blue stripes and flecks when alive. The girdle is hairless and brown to red or pink, often with yellow or white mottling.Baldwin, A. (2007). Illustrated Keys to the chitons (Polyplacophora). Accessed from: http://www.wallawalla.edu/academics/departments/biology/rosario/inverts/Mollusca/Polyplacophora/Baldwin_Polyplacophora_Key_Sept_2007.pdf]

imilar species

"Tonicella lineata" is very similar but has a dark border to the concentric blue lines on the anterior plate. "Tonicella lokii" is also similar but has radiating bands on the girdle. "Mopalia spectabilis" looks superficially similar due to its bright blue wavy lines on the valves, but has a hairy girdle.

Distribution and habitat

The natural range of "T. undocaerulea" stretches from Kodiak, Alaska to Point Conception, California. It is commonly found on rocks in low intertidal and shallow subtidal waters.O'Clair, R.M. and C.E. O'Clair. (1998). "Southeast Alaska's Rocky Shores". Plant Press: Auke Bay, Alaska. 563 pp.]

Biology

This chiton grazes on corralline algae.

References