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Acanthopleura gemmata (Blainville, 1825)
| Family Name: | Chitonidae |
| Synonyms: | Chiton gemmatus (Blainville, 1825) |
| Taxonomic Group: | Invertebrates (Mollusc) |
| Common Name: | Chiton |
Name
Description
| Size | 120 mm |
|---|---|
| Description | Large chiton bearing about 8 dorsal plates, and with a lateral girdle with many short spines typical of the genus. |
Ecology, Habitat & Location
| Ecological Notes | Very slow-moving, and grazing on algae on the rock surface, it is found on several islands in the Singapore Straits. |
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| Habitats | Coral Reef |
| Distribution | In Singapore, found in natural rocky shores on the Southern Islands of the Singapore Straits. Also found in the Indian and Pacific Ocean, from East Africa to Australia. |
| Nature Reserves | Labrador Nature Reserve |
Conservation
| Trends & Threats | The loss & degradation of natural rocky intertidal habitats on islands in the Singapore Straits. |
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| Scientific Interest & Potential Value | Is the largest intertidal chiton living in Singapore. |
| Conservation Notes | It requires sufficient areas of rocky habitat along the shore and intertidal areas with crevices. Masonry sea-walls do not seem to provide adequate habitat for this species. |
Status
| Species Status | Native |
|---|---|
| Singapore Red Data Book Status | Endangered (EN) [2008] |
Photos
References
| References | Davison, G.W.H., Ng, P.K.L. & Ho, H.C (Eds.). 2008. The Singapore Red Data Book (2nd Edition). Singapore: Nature Society (Singapore). 285pp |
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