EntdeckenInvertebrate

Mossy Chiton

mopalia muscosa

The Mossy Chiton is a fascinating creature that clings to rocks in the ocean. Its shell is covered in tiny, colorful algae that help it blend in with its surroundings!

Lebensraum: Coastal rocky shores and tide pools.

Aussehen

The Mossy Chiton has an oval, flattened body covered by eight overlapping shell plates. These plates are often dull green, brown, or black, heavily textured with fine bristles and algae, making it appear mossy. This natural texture helps it blend perfectly with its rocky surroundings.

ReichAnimaliaStammMolluscaKlassePolyplacophoraOrdnungChitonidaFamilieMopaliidaeGattungMopalia
Mossy Chiton
solitary trait badgecamouflaged trait badgeherbivorous trait badgeaquatic trait badge
Mossy Chiton

Kategorie

Invertebrate

Seltenheit

Common

Gefahr

0/5 · Keine bekannte Gefahr

Snaps

Mach den ersten Snap!

Interessante Fakten

Despite having eyes, chitons can 'see' light and dark with hundreds of tiny light sensors on their shells!

If flipped over, a Mossy Chiton can slowly right itself by wiggling its powerful muscular foot.

Its 'teeth' are among the hardest biological materials, containing magnetite, a magnetic mineral!

They can live in the same spot for many years, slowly grazing on the same patch of rock.

Besondere Fähigkeiten

Fähigkeit

Super Suction

Mossy Chitons can firmly grip rocks with a strong foot, which helps them resist powerful waves and predators.

Fähigkeit

Living Armor

It has eight articulated shell plates that overlap, allowing it to flex its body to fit tight crevices for safety.

Fähigkeit

Rock Scraper Tongue

Mossy Chitons have a radula, a ribbon-like tongue lined with incredibly hard teeth, to scrape algae off rocks.

Fähigkeit

Rocky Camouflage

Its textured, bristly shell grows algae, which helps it perfectly blend in with surrounding rocks, hiding from hungry birds.

Maße und Details

Länge
5-10
Gewicht
5-30
Lebenserwartung
5-15
Shell Plates
8

Ernährung und Fütterung

They munch on tiny plants and algae that grow on rocks, using their special scraping 'tongue'.

Hauptnahrung

  • diatoms
  • green algae
  • red algae
  • microscopic plants

Nahrungssuche

  • Grazing

Ökologische Zusammenhänge

eaten by

ochre sea star

Pisaster ochraceus

A common predator in tide pools.

eaten by

red rock crab

Cancer productus

Crabs may dislodge and consume chitons.

depends on

ribbed limpet

Lottia digitalis

Often shares rocky surfaces and food sources.

eats

sea lettuce

Ulva lactuca

Consumes this common green algae.

Merkmale

Auch bekannt als

Algae ChitonMoss ChitonRock Chiton

Sammlungen

Sicherheit

Gefahr

0/5 · Keine bekannte Gefahr

Noch keine besonderen Sicherheitshinweise.

Häufig gestellte Fragen

Was ist der/die/das länge von Mossy Chiton?

5-10

Was ist der/die/das gewicht von Mossy Chiton?

5-30

Was ist der/die/das lebenserwartung von Mossy Chiton?

5-15

Was frisst Mossy Chiton?

They munch on tiny plants and algae that grow on rocks, using their special scraping 'tongue'.

Wo findet man Mossy Chiton normalerweise?

Coastal rocky shores and tide pools.

Wie jagt Mossy Chiton?

Grazing

Was ist der/die/das shell Plates von Mossy Chiton?

8

Snap-Karte

Zoome hinein, um Cluster aufzulösen und zu sehen, wo dieses Objekt fotografiert wurde.

Karte wird geladen…

Neueste Snaps

Neueste Snaps erscheinen hier, wenn neue Beobachtungen hinzukommen.

Wo zu sehen

Mehr Invertebrate