Lepidozona mertensii
| Lepidozona mertensii | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Polyplacophora |
| Order: | Chitonida |
| Family: | Ischnochitonidae |
| Genus: | Lepidozona |
| Species: | L. mertensii
|
| Binomial name | |
| Lepidozona mertensii Middendorff, 1847[1]
| |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Lepidozona mertensii, Merten's chiton, is a species of chiton found under intertidal rocks from northern Alaska to northern Mexico.[2]
Description
Lepidozona mertensii can grow to lengths of up to 5 cm.[3] One of its distinguishing features is the presence of overlapping oval scales on the girdle, giving it a granular appearance.[4] The girdle may also be banded with yellow and red, while the valves tend to be brown, cream, red, or even greenish-purple.[3][4]
Life cycle
Female Merten's chitons lay their eggs in cases,[4] which hatch into planktonic larvae called trochophores.[2] These will metamorphose directly into young adults without a veliger stage.
References
- ^ Schwabe, Enrico (2009). "Stenoplax heathiana S. S. Berry, 1946". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
- ^ a b "Lepidozona mertensii, Merton's chiton". SeaLifeBase. Retrieved February 2, 2026.
- ^ a b "Chitons (Polyplacophora)". Pacific Northwest Shell Club. October 18, 2020. Retrieved February 2, 2026.
- ^ a b c Cowles, Dave (2005). "Lepidozona mertensii (Middendorff, 1847)". Invertebrates of the Salish Sea. Retrieved February 2, 2026.