On the Systematic Position of Three Large Chiton Species (Mollusca: Polyplacophora: Chitonidae) from the Arabian Sea Region PDF

Keywords

Arabian Sea, taxonomy, Chiton species

Abstract

Three large species of Chiton reported from the Arabian Sea region, C. peregrinus Thiele 1910, C. salihafui Bullock 1972, and C. fosteri Bullock 1972, were examined to determine their taxonomic position within the subfamily Chitoninae. Radular morphology of these species, especially the centrolateral tooth with a distal end parallel to the longitudinal axis of the animal and the major lateral tooth with a short denticle cap oriented 90° with respect to the tooth shaft, indicates that these species belong in the genus Rhyssoplax, not in Chiton.