Chiton
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Chitons are single shell mollusks mostly found in cold water areas with rocky beaches.
They range in size from less than an inch to over one foot for the giant pacific chiton.
The above picture shows the basic chiton structure. Shells are oval with eight overlapping plates surrounded by a girdle that hold the plates in place.
Chitons are flexible animals that can secure themselves to rocks as they feed on algae and other plant life. When threatened, they also can roll up into a ball.
Chiton shells are often colorful, and with anywhere between 800-1000 chiton species documented, their shells are often considered collectible.
© 2008 Patricia A. Michaels