Gumboot chiton

Gumboot chiton
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Polyplacophora
Order: Chitonida
Family: Acanthochitonidae
Genus: Cryptochiton
von Middendorff, 1847
Species:
C. stelleri
Binomial name
Cryptochiton stelleri
(von Middendorff, 1847)
Synonyms[1]
  • Chiton stelleri von Middendorf, 1847

The gumboot chiton (Cryptochiton stelleri), also known as the giant western fiery chiton or giant Pacific chiton, is the largest of the chitons, growing to 36 cm (14 in) and capable of reaching a weight of more than 2 kg (4.4 lb). It is found along the shores of the northern Pacific Ocean from Central California to Alaska, across the Aleutian Islands to the Kamchatka Peninsula and south to Japan.[2][3] It inhabits the lower intertidal and subtidal zones of rocky coastlines. The gumboot chiton's appearance has led some tidepoolers to refer to it, fondly, as the "wandering meatloaf". The name "gumboot chiton" seems to derive from a resemblance to part of a rubber Wellington boot or "gum rubber" boot.[4]

Chitons are molluscs that have eight armored plates (called valves) running in a flexible line down their back. Unlike most chitons, the gumboot's valves are completely hidden by its leathery upper skin or girdle that usually is reddish-brown or brown, but occasionally is orange in color.

Chitons have long arrays of fine teeth that are partially made of magnetite, making its teeth hard enough to scrape algae off rocks.[5] The styli enclosing their teeth contain the mineral santabarbaraite,[6] making the gumboot the first organism known to use this material.[7]

  1. ^ Bruce Marshall & Enrico Schwabe (2015). Bieler R, Bouchet P, Gofas S, Marshall B, Rosenberg G, La Perna R, Neubauer TA, Sartori AF, Schneider S, Vos C, ter Poorten JJ, Taylor J, Dijkstra H, Finn J, Bank R, Neubert E, Moretzsohn F, Faber M, Houart R, Picton B, Garcia-Alvarez O (eds.). "Cryptochiton stelleri (Middendorff, 1847)". MolluscaBase. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  2. ^ Ricketts, Calvin & Hedgepeth (1992), p. 105
  3. ^ Cowles, Dave (2005). "Cryptochiton stelleri". Archived from the original on 2006-09-01.
  4. ^ Fields (1999), p. 27
  5. ^ "Magnetic teeth hold promise for materials and energy".
  6. ^ Pratesi G., Cipriani C., Guili G., and Birch W. D. (2003) Santabarbaraite: a new amorphous phosphate mineral. European Journal of Mineralogy.15, 185-192
  7. ^ Athens, Emily (31 May 2021). "How the 'Wandering Meatloaf' Got Its Rock-Hard Teeth". The New York Times. Retrieved 31 May 2021.