Tonicella marmorea
Species
Photographer / copyright holder
Klas Malmberg (http://aquatilis.se/)
Tonicella marmorea. Image taken in Sweden.
Tonicella marmorea
<em>Tonicella marmorea</em> (O Fabricius, 1780)
Tonicella marmorea
Species
Photographer / copyright holder
Klas Malmberg (http://aquatilis.se/)
Tonicella marmorea. Image taken in Sweden.
Detail of the girdle and valve structure of Tonicella marmorea
Species
Photographer / copyright holder
Steve Wilkinson
Detail of the girdle and valve structure of Tonicella marmorea
Tonicella marmorea
Distribution and status
It is a northern species extending as far south as north Wales in the west and Yorkshire in the east. Elsewhere it occurs across the Arctic Ocean around Norway, Sweden, Greenland and the Atlantic coast of North America.
Ecology and behaviour
Most common on expanses of bedrock though also occurs on stones and pebbles. It feeds by grazing material from the rock surface using its radula. It can occur in fairly high densities (40-50 per square metre) making it an important grazer within the ecosystem. It occurs very low on the shore down to depths of 200m.
Key identification features
- Smooth, "leathery" appearance of girdle
- Valve surface appears smooth
References and links
- Baxter, J.M. and Jones, A.M. 1987. Molluscs: Caudofoveata Solenogastres Polyplacophora and Scaphopoda. London.
Taxon version key
[NBNSYS0000178409]
Sort order
440
Taxonomic group
Chiton
Size: Up to about 45mm long. Shape: Relatively narrow girdle with the shell making up 70% of the width. Valves are moderately tall with a definite keel.