ID snail looking thing

[Talonstorm]

I found this guy just below the surface of my sand stuck on the glass. I was doing some rearranging of my live rock, so I removed him. He is in a little cup of tank water until I get an answer on what he is and if he is good or bad. He has a hard shell on top and is soft and snail like on the bottom with a visable mouth. Pictures:
Topside:

Underneath:

Any help would be very appreciated!

Thanks,
Tina

 

[Anonymous]

Need a closer, clearer picture of the shell to give you the exact subfamily, genus and species but it is a member of the family: Chitonidae (commonly called a chiton). Most of these are harmless algae eaters though some species feed of worms, tunicates, sponges and bryozoans.

Regards,
David Mohr

 

[Anonymous]

David,
excuse my curiosity....

Aren't all chitons in the Class Polyplacophora? Is there only one order and family in this class? Thanks!

 

[Anonymous]

David,
excuse my curiosity....

Aren't all chitons in the Class Polyplacophora? Is there only one order and family in this class? Thanks!

Yup, all are in the Class: Polyplacophora, and one Order: Neoloricata and from what I recall there are at least six families. The family: Chitonidae is comprised of three subfamilies. All in all I believe there are about 600 species. But without a closer picture I could even be wrong about the family.

Regards,
David Mohr

 

[Lutra1]

It looked like a protozoan to me. 8O I'd be very mystified if I found one of those in my tank.

 

[Anonymous]

David,
excuse my curiosity....

Aren't all chitons in the Class Polyplacophora? Is there only one order and family in this class? Thanks!

Yup, all are in the Class: Polyplacophora, and one Order: Neoloricata and from what I recall there are at least six families. The family: Chitonidae is comprised of three subfamilies. All in all I believe there are about 600 species. But without a closer picture I could even be wrong about the family.

Regards,
David Mohr

Ah, merci. Your wealth of knowledge is always appreciated.

 

[Talonstorm]

This is about the best I can do with my camera. The focus for supermacro is difficult to use.

and

Is that any better? You can kind of see it is segmented and if you take it out of water it curls up.

Thanks again,
Tina

 

[mejiggery]

Stenoplax mariposa i'd say but i'm far from an expert try this link see what you think. its got some great info on them if nothing else.
http://home.inreach.com/burghart/

 

[Talonstorm]

Yes, it looks exactly like that! Now that we know its name, is it safe to go back into the tank? I don't want to leave him in the cup of saltwater on my kichen table too long if he is innocent. :lol:

Thanks,
Tina

 

[mejiggery]

He's fine harmless algea eater

 

[FragMaster]

David I swear everytime you post I am sitting here with a pencil in my hand! LOL!

 

[Anonymous]

Don't those guys eat coralline, too?

Also, I seem to remember some having problems with chitons scratching acrylic tanks.

or am I wrong on both counts? :roll:

 

[Anonymous]

Take a look at this thread. It's a thread that I started about Cozumel. But there's some "real life" pictures of Chiton.
http://www.reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.p ... ht=cozumel