- published: 30 Jul 2014
- views: 11323
Chitons /ˈkaɪtənz/ are small to large marine molluscs in the class Polyplacophora, formerly known as Amphineura. About 940extant and 430 fossil species are recognized.
They are also sometimes known as sea cradles or "coat-of-mail shells", or more formally as loricates, polyplacophorans, and occasionally as polyplacophores.
Chitons have a dorsal shell, which is composed of eight separate shell plates or valves. These plates overlap somewhat at the front and back edges, and yet articulate well with one another. Because of this, although the plates provide good protection for impacts from above, they nonetheless permit the chiton to flex upward when needed for locomotion over uneven surfaces, and also allow the animal to slowly curl up into a ball when it is dislodged from the underlying surface. The shell plates are surrounded by a structure known as a girdle.
Chitons live worldwide, in cold water, warm water, and in the tropics. Most chiton species inhabit intertidal or subtidal zones, and do not extend beyond the photic zone.
Hell is getting closer,
don't leave no doors open
Will you save me with a raincoat?
Keeping all levels safe
And when dying feels ok,
I'll leave with a safe way
Will you save me with a raincoat?
Keep me away from the gate
Could you please go home
and leave me alone with my pain
Do I scare you when running away
Left alone in the dark where no angels stay
Caught in prison called time
Will you leave or wait from my sign?
And all I ever do is drain
All those memories who scare in the autumn rain
To bad I have a mortal spine