Family MOPALIIDAE

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Introduction

The Mopaliidae is a small family of small to large chitons, found mainly in the Indo-Pacific Ocean. In Australian waters, with the exception of Placiphorella atlantica, species live in littoral to shallow sublittoral depths, and are usually heavily overgrown with algae. Placiphorella atlantica is a cosmopolitan, carnivorous species found on rocks and debris, in depths of 200–1700 m.

The family is characterised by insertion plates with slits on all valves, insertion plate teeth not pectinate, lack of extrapigmentary aesthetes, and girdle with hairs or bristles, never scales.

General References

Clark, R.N. 1994. Review of the genus Placiphorella Dall, 1879, ex Carpenter MS (Polyplacophora: Mopaliidae) with description of two new species. Veliger 37(3): 290-311

Kaas, P. & Van Belle, R.A. 1994. Monograph of Living Chitons (Mollusca: Polyplacophora). Suborder Ischnochitonina. Ischnochitonidae: Ischnochitoninae (concluded); Callistoplacinae; Mopaliidae. Additions to Vols 1–4. Leiden : E.J. Brill Vol. 5 402 pp.

History of changes