Animal of the day (173)

Sea cradle, coat-of-mail shell, suck-rock — all of these nicknames refer to a very particular class of marine molluscs called Chitons. These small animals, of which 940 extant species are recognized, come in various colors and patterns. Thanks to the articulated shell composed of eight separate plates on its back, it is able to swim and even curl into a ball for protection. It is usually found creeping along the sea floor on its muscular foot, which can cling to rocks powerfully, making it difficult to dislodge. Though most species are herbivorous grazers, some are omnivorous or even carnivorous. The one in the picture below is the Lined Chiton, found along the west coast of North America.

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