File #014 //
Chiton
(Tonicella Lineata)
Core Data
Designation: Marine Mollusk
Habitat: Chitons are found worldwide, from cold waters through to the tropics typically on hard surfaces like rocks and crevices.
Diet: They feed on algae, bryozoans, diatoms, barnacles, and sometimes bacteria while some species catch other small invertebrates, such as shrimp and possibly even small fish.
Size: Varies based on species from as small as a few millimeters, 1 to 2 cm (-2in), even up to 35cm (14in).
Lifecycle: Ranges quite a bit, from 1 to 20 years and sometimes even up to 40 depending on the species.
Specialized Functions
A Chiton's shell is formed out of Aragonite, a naturally occurring mineral it uses for defense. Sometimes it even rolls up like an armadillo for enhanced protection!
A Chiton's teeth are made of Magnetite, the hardest material created by a living organism and stronger than steel! It uses these teeth to scrape algae and other food off of rocks.