Leptochiton asellus
Species
General appearance
Leptochiton asellus
<em>Leptochiton asellus</em> (Gmelin, 1791)
Leptochiton asellus
Species
Photographer / copyright holder
David Kipling
Leptochiton asellus - Isle of Man.
Leptochiton asellus
Species
Photographer / copyright holder
David Kipling
Leptochiton asellus showing variation in colour. Photograph taken Isle of Man.
Leptochiton asellus - detail of valve sculpture
Species
Photographer / copyright holder
David Kipling
Leptochiton asellus - detail of valve sculpture
Leptochiton asellus
Species
Photographer / copyright holder
David Kipling
Leptochiton asellus taken Isle of Man
Leptochiton asellus
Distribution and status
Most common species of subtidal chiton around the British Isles. Occurs from Spitsbergen and the Barents Sea, Iceland and south to the Bay of Biscay and north Spain.
Ecology and behaviour
Lives on the underside of stones, pebbles and shells embedded in silty sediment. It feeds by grazing material from the rock surface using its radula. It occurs very low on the shore down to depths of 250m.
Key identification features
- Intermediate valves have a distinct keel
- Valve sculpture of chain like rows
References and links
- Baxter, J.M. and Jones, A.M. 1987. Molluscs: Caudofoveata Solenogastres Polyplacophora and Scaphopoda. London.
Taxon version key
[NBNSYS0000176074]
Sort order
300
Taxonomic group
Chiton
Size: Up to about 19mm long. Shape: Relatively narrow girdle with the shell making up 80-90% of the width.