New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research abstracts

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Adaptations of the chiton Sypharochiton pelliserpentis to rocky and estuarine habitats

PETER L. HORN

Department of Zoology University of Canterbury Private Bag Christchurch, New Zealand

Abstract Various morphological and physiological features of Sypharochiton pelliserpentis (Quoy & Gaimard, 1835) were examined in relation to the different physico-chemical characteristics experienced at 4 sites on Kaikoura Peninsula and 2 sites in the Avon-Heathcote Estuary. Body water content of chitons from high-shore exposed and estuarine rocky sites was significantly greater (P<0.005) and desiccation rates were significantly less (P<0.05) than those of chitons from low-shore marine sites and an estuarine mudflat. The percentage of body water loss causing death was greatest for high-shore marine chitons and least for estuarine chitons. Estuarine chitons had relatively more gill tissue than marine individuals. Body shape appeared to be correlated with intensity of wave action, and narrow animals were found in more wave-exposed areas. Variations in radula length showed no clear-cut trends among localities.

Keywords Sypharochiton pelliserpentis; Poly-placophora; intertidal environment; estuaries; adaptations; morphology; physiology; marine ecology.

New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research, 1982, Vol. 16 : 253-261
Received 7 May 1982; accepted 19 August 1982

PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (745K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)

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