Species of mollusc
| Chiton olivaceus
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| Dorsal view of Chiton olivaceus from Sicily. Museum specimen
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain:
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Eukaryota
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| Kingdom:
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Animalia
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| Phylum:
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Mollusca
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| Class:
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Polyplacophora
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| Order:
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Chitonida
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| Family:
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Chitonidae
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| Genus:
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Chiton
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| Species:
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C. olivaceus
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| Binomial name
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Chiton olivaceus
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| Synonyms
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- Chiton (Rhyssoplax) olivaceus Spengler, 1797
- Chiton estuarii Brusina, 1870
- Chiton polii Deshayes, 1835
- Chiton rubellus Nardo, 1847
- Chiton siculus Gray J.E., 1828
- Chiton squammulosus Dollfus, 1883
- Chiton striatus Brusina, 1870
- Lepidopleurus sulcatus Risso, 1826
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Chiton olivaceus, the green chiton, is a species of chiton, a marine polyplacophoran mollusk in the family Chitonidae, the typical chitons.[1][2]
Description
Chiton olivaceus can reach a length of 32–40 millimetres (1.3–1.6 in) and a width of about 16 millimetres (0.63 in). These large chitons have carinate plates with strong ribs. The shell is oblong and oval. In the front and rear plates ribs have a radial pattern. The intermediate valves show a sharp beak and rounded sutural plates. Colors are very variable, ranging from olive-gray (hence the common name) to yellow-brown, sometimes black, orange, red or yellow. The girdle surrounding all of the valves is quite large and covered by bristles and scales.[3][4][5]
The teeth of these grazers of algae[6] are composed of magnetite,[citation needed] the hardest material usable by a living being.
Distribution
This species is common in the Mediterranean sea around Italy and Greece, but can also to be found in the nearby Atlantic Ocean.[7]
Habitat
Chiton olivaceus occur on a solid substrate, particularly stones and rocks, in the zones of sweeping of the waves, at a low depth.[3]
References
