PORT PHILLIP BAY


Chiton 

Notoplax speciosa (Adams, 1861)

View scientific description and taxonomy

Scientific Details

Suborder and Family level characters:
Valves touching, body shape oval.
Insertion plate of anterior valve usually with 5 slits.

Species level characters:
Anterior valve with small, round, flat-topped swollen lumps (pustules). Middle valves with small swollen lumps (pustules) in the centre and narrow smooth strip along the dorsal midline, and with oval swollen lumps (pustules) on the small exposed areas at the edge (lateral areas). Girdle with dense covering of long, thin spins (spicules). Small tufts of spines (spicules) on the girdle where the valves meet one another (sutural tufts).

Sources:
Macpherson, J. H. and Gabriel, C. J. (1962) Marine Molluscs of Victoria.
Kass, P., Jones, A. M. and Gowlett-Holmes, K. L. (1998) Polyplacophora, in: Mollusca: the southern synthesis, Australian Biological Resources Study.

Taxonomy

Phylum:
Mollusca
Class:
Polyplacophora
Order:
Neoloricata
Suborder:
Acanthochitonina
Family:
Acanthochitonidae
Genus:
Notoplax
Species:
speciosa

General Description

Flattened oval shaped body with 8 shell sections (valves) surrounded by a fleshy girdle. Red-brown, yellow-brown or dark brown. Up to 8 cm long.

Biology

This is one of a few Victorian species of chitons that live among sponges.

Habitat

Usually associated with sponges, to depth of 15 m.

Reefs

Coastal shores

Sponge gardens

Distribution guide

South-eastern Australia.

Species Group

Sea snails and shells › Chitons

Depth

Shore (0-1 m)
Shallow (1-30 m)

Water Column

On or near sea floor

Max Size

8 cm

Diet

Herbivore

Commercial Species

No

Global Dispersal

Native to Australia

Identify

Conservation Status

  • DSE Advisory List : Not listed
  • EPBC Act 1999 : Not listed
  • IUCN Red List : Not listed

Author

article author Patullo, B.

Blair Patullo is Online Producer for marine projects at Museum Victoria.

citation

Cite this page as:
Patullo, B., 2011, Chiton, Notoplax speciosa, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 25 Feb 2025, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/5706

Text: creative commons cc by licence