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"The <em>Chiton Chilensis</em> has a smooth border; it is found in crevices of rocks under stones, near Valparaiso." &mdash; Goodrich, 1859

Chiton chilensis

"The Chiton Chilensis has a smooth border; it is found in crevices of rocks under stones, near…

Chiton is a peculiar marine mollusk. It is low and flat, creeping like the limpets. But the shell consists of a series of eight pieces overlapping one another from the anterior to the posterior end.

Chiton

Chiton is a peculiar marine mollusk. It is low and flat, creeping like the limpets. But the shell consists…

A dorsal view of a chiton, showing the eight shell plates. Chitons are small to large, primitive marine mollusks in the class Polyplacophora. There are 900 to 1,000 extant species of chitons in the class, which was formerly known as Amphineura. Chitons have a shell which is composed of eight separate shell plates or valves. These plates overlap somewhat at the front and back edges, and yet the plates articulate well with one another. Because of this, although the plates provide good protection for impacts from above, they nonetheless permit the chiton to flex upward when needed for locomotion over uneven surfaces, and also the animal can slowly curl up into a ball when it is dislodged from the underlying surface. The shell plates are surrounded by a structure known as a girdle.

Chiton (Dorsal)

A dorsal view of a chiton, showing the eight shell plates. Chitons are small to large, primitive marine…

A ventral view of a chiton, showing p, foot; o, mouth; kr, oval fringe; and br, the numerous ctenidia. Chitons are small to large, primitive marine mollusks in the class Polyplacophora. There are 900 to 1,000 extant species of chitons in the class, which was formerly known as Amphineura. Chitons have a shell which is composed of eight separate shell plates or valves. These plates overlap somewhat at the front and back edges, and yet the plates articulate well with one another. Because of this, although the plates provide good protection for impacts from above, they nonetheless permit the chiton to flex upward when needed for locomotion over uneven surfaces, and also the animal can slowly curl up into a ball when it is dislodged from the underlying surface. The shell plates are surrounded by a structure known as a girdle.

Chiton (Ventral)

A ventral view of a chiton, showing p, foot; o, mouth; kr, oval fringe; and br, the numerous ctenidia.…

An illustration of a chiton's excretory and reproductive organs. O, Ovary; P, Pericardium; N, Nephridium; r, rectum; and Br, Ctenidia.

Chiton Excretory and Reproductive Organs

An illustration of a chiton's excretory and reproductive organs. O, Ovary; P, Pericardium; N, Nephridium;…

An illustration of a chiton's excretory and reproductive organs. O, Ovary; P, Pericardium; N, Nephridium; r, rectum; Cl, Cloacal or pallial chamber of Neomaniae and Chaetoerma; and Br, Ctenidia.

Chiton Excretory and Reproductive Organs

An illustration of a chiton's excretory and reproductive organs. O, Ovary; P, Pericardium; N, Nephridium;…

An illustration of a chiton's excretory and reproductive organs. O, Ovary; P, Pericardium; N, Nephridium; r, rectum; and Cl, Cloacal or pallial chamber of Neomaniae and Chaetoerma.

Chiton Excretory and Reproductive Organs

An illustration of a chiton's excretory and reproductive organs. O, Ovary; P, Pericardium; N, Nephridium;…

An illustration of a chiton's excretory and reproductive organs. O, Ovary; P, Pericardium; N, Nephridium; r, rectum; and Cl, Cloacal or pallial chamber of Neomaniae and Chaetoerma; Br, Ctenidia; g, External aperture of the gential duct of Chiton; and u, External aperture of nephridium.

Chiton Excretory and Reproductive Organs

An illustration of a chiton's excretory and reproductive organs. O, Ovary; P, Pericardium; N, Nephridium;…

An illustration of the dorsal view of a chiton with the shell removed. Showing b, buccal mass; ov, ovary; od, oviduct; i, coils of intestine; ao, aorta; c' keft testine; and c, ventricle.

Chiton with Shell Removed

An illustration of the dorsal view of a chiton with the shell removed. Showing b, buccal mass; ov, ovary;…

An illustration of a pallial eye and aesthetes of a chiton.

Pallial Eye

An illustration of a pallial eye and aesthetes of a chiton.

An illustrative view of the dissection of he renal organs of a chiton. "F, foot; L, Edge of the mantle not removed in the front part of the specimen; s.o., Oesophagus; af, anus; gg, Genital duct; go, External opening of the same; eg, Stem of the nephridium leading to no, its external aperture; nk, reflected portion of the nephridial stem; ng, Fine caeca of the nephridium, which are seen ramifying transversely over the whole inner surface of the pedal muscular mass." -Britannica, 1910

Dissection of the Renal Organs of a Chiton

An illustrative view of the dissection of he renal organs of a chiton. "F, foot; L, Edge of the mantle…

"The <em>Chiton spinosus</em> is bordered by long, black, aculeted spines; found in the South Seas; length three inches." &mdash; Goodrich, 1859

Chiton spinosus

"The Chiton spinosus is bordered by long, black, aculeted spines; found in the South Seas;…

"Bronze statuette (stand of mirror) wearing Chiton. From Athens." &mdash; Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

Statuette

"Bronze statuette (stand of mirror) wearing Chiton. From Athens." — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

"Terracotta figure, wearing Chlamys and Chiton." &mdash; Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

Terracotta Figure

"Terracotta figure, wearing Chlamys and Chiton." — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

"Terracotta statuette, wearing Chiton and Himation." &mdash; Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

Terracotta Statuette

"Terracotta statuette, wearing Chiton and Himation." — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893