eastern cape scuba diving
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| Scientific name: |
Ischnochiton oniscus |
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| Common name: |
Dwarf chtion |
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| Taxonomy |
| Phyulm |
Sub Phylum |
Class |
Sub Class |
Order |
Sub Order |
Family |
Sub Family |
Genus |
Species |
| Mollusca |
Not Defined |
Polyplacophora |
Neoloricata |
Neoloricata |
Ischnochitonina |
Ischnochitonidae |
Ischnochitoninae |
Ischnochiton |
Ischnochiton oniscus |
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Short Description:
The smallest of South African chitonsColour oftenwhite but can occur in a wide variety of pattrens and colours Valves textured with fine pits,wwhixh are ogten arrancged in rowsbut lacking radiating ridgesGridle narrow,covered in tiny scales that appears smooth to the naked eye,but reveal fine ribs under microscopic examination
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Identification
features: |
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| Size: |
10mm |
| Behaviour: |
Small groups under rocks |
| Diet: |
Chitons usually emerge at night during high tides, to feed on minute algae and other encrusting organisms present on rocks |
| Distribution: |
Cape Town to Bazaruti Island in Mozambique |
| Depth: |
1-5m |
| Habitat: |
Rock and sandy pools |
| Reference: |
- Two Oceans
(A guide to the marine life of Southern Africa)
GM Branch;CL Griffiths;ML Branch;LE Beckley
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| Similar Species: |
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Database Statistics
(Click on the links for more information) |
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eastern cape scuba diving
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