species: Schizochiton incisus in Lizard Island area: all known taxa (Lizard Island Field Guide)
Schizochiton incisus


©Anne Hoggett: Schizochiton incisus under rubble slab near the sandspit on Palfrey Island, Lizard Island Group. Relatively common in this area.

©Anne Hoggett: Schizochiton incisus 36 mm long from under rubble exposed at low tide at Coconut Beach, Lizard Island. Identified by Bruno Anseeuw through iNaturalist.

©Anne Hoggett: The 7th and 8th valves of Schizochiton incisus from Coconut Beach, Lizard Island. The mantle is fissured behind the tail plate. The tail plate itself is also fissured in the vertical plane (in this view, below the median notch on the posterior margin).
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Mollusca
Class Polyplacophora
Order Chitonida
Family Schizochitonidae
Genus Schizochiton
Species Schizochiton incisus

Colours

                             

Distinguishing features

The first valve (anterior end) is fan-shaped with ocelli ("shell eyes") arranged in radial rows. Other valves have a single row of ocelli arranged in a V-shape. At the posterior end, the girdle and the vertical posterior face of the tail valve are split - this is typical of the genus. (Information provided by Bruno Anseeuw, Jul 2020). At Lizard Island, colour varies from pale greenish brown to almost black.

Size

  • Up to 5 cm (length of Lizard Island specimens)

Synonyms

Distribution

Web resources

References

References that assist with identification

  • Schwabe, E. (2010). Illustrated summary of chiton terminology (Mollusca, Polyplacophora). Spixiana, 33(2): 171-194. LIRS catalog number 90361.

Other references

  • Robertson, R. (1981). List of shell-bearing mollusks observed and collected at Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef, Australia, Tryonia, 4: 1-32. LIRS catalog number 403.