Chiton albolineatus Broderip and G.B. Sowerby I, 1829

Reyes-Gómez, Adriana, Flores-Garza, Rafael, Galeana-Rebolledo, Lizeth, Hernández-Vera, Gerardo, Galván-Villa, Cristian M., Torreblanca-Ramírez, Carmina, Flores-Rodríguez, Pedro, García-Ibañez, Sergio & Ríos-Jara, Eduardo, 2022, Intertidal chitons (Mollusca: Polyplacophora) from the rocky coastline of Guerrero, México, with the description of a new species, Zootaxa 5155 (4), pp. 451-492 : 471

Chiton albolineatus Broderip and G.B. Sowerby I, 1829

Figures 2M , 10K–M , 11A–E

Distribution. From Mazatlán, Sinaloa to Bahías de Huatulco, Oaxaca, México ( Reyes-Gómez 2016).

Type specimens. According to Bullock (1988), holotype in BMNH? but not found .

Type Locality. Mazatlán , Sinaloa ( Bullock 1988) .

Material examined. 152 specimens, maximum size of 40.7 mm long, 22.5 mm wide. L (n=7); U (n=5); M (n=7); P (n=9); B (n=6); K (n=13); Q (n=5); U (n=3); D (n=7); H (n=10); E (n=12), F (n=4); C (n=16); N (n=4); I (n=12); S (n=7); J (n=8), A (n=5).

Habitat. Mostly found at shallow subtidal depths in areas of low wave energy, usually congregated in high numbers on medium-sized to large rocks and buried in sand. Juvenile specimens were mostly collected between 3–6 m depth on smaller rocks and shells. Adult specimens were found in the subtidal with S. limaciformis , T. forbesii , and C. lurida .

Remarks. The jugal area of intermediate valves II and III usually had darker tones of green. However, in many individuals the valves are completely dark green or black. Color variability was observed in the lateral areas: usually they show continuous, regular white radial bands o but in some specimens the bands are discontinuous and consist of numerous dots.

Chiton albolineatus is important in local fisheries in the southern Mexican Pacific (Oaxaca and Guerrero) due to its use as bait. It has also been used for human consumption in the local gastronomy, in a dish made mainly of the foot of C. articulatus (“sea cockroach”) but it has become increasingly difficult to find this species and has been replaced by the meat of C. albolineatus

Figures

FIGURE 2. Dorsal view of the whole specimens that represent the analyzed species. A, Chaetopleura lurida, BL 27.48 x 15.70 mm, Majahua, Acapulco (CNMO 5229). B, Chaetopleura hanselmani, BL 11.02 x 7.16 mm, Tlacopanocha, Acapulco (CNMO 5804). Ischnochiton muscarius, C, BL 16.62 x 9.77 mm, Angosta, Acapulco (CNMO 5202); D, BL 15.12 x 9.55 mm, Barra de Potosí Protegida, Petatlán (CNMO 5338); E, BL 18.30 x 10.17 mm, Troncones, La Unión (CNMO 5327); F, BL 14.98 x 9.51 mm, La Barrita, Petatlán (CNMO 5315). G, Callistochiton elenensis, BL 12.32 x 7.76 mm, La Barrita, Petatlán (CNMO 5823). H, Callistoplax retusa, BL 20.41 x 9.68 mm, Parque de la Reina, Acapulco (CNMO 5185). Stenoplax limaciformis, I, BL 17.56 x 7.21 mm, Parque de la Reina, Acapulco (CNMO 5179); J, BL 20.12 x 9.15 mm, Tlacopanocha, Acapulco (CNMO 5208); K, BL 17.65 x 8.29 mm, Las Gatas, Zihuatanejo de Azueta (CNMO 5254); L, BL 19.78 x 9.84 mm, Isla Grande, Zihuatanejo de Azueta (UAGRO 0024). Chiton albolineatus, M, BL 23.84 x 14.63 mm, Piedra de Tlacoyunque, Tecpan de Galeana (CNMO 5337). Tonicia forbesii, BL 33.41 x 17.86 mm, Isla Grande, Zihuatanejo de Azueta (CNMO 5255). Acanthochitona arragonites, O, BL 8.80 x 5.2 mm, Las Salinas, Copala (CNMO 5267). Lepidochitona salvadorensis, P, BL 10.63 x 5.7 mm, Barra de Potosi Protegida, Zihuatanejo de Azueta (CNMO 5332).

FIGURE 10. Stenoplax limaciformis, SEM images of a specimen BL 20.45 x 9.25 mm, Tlacopanocha,Acapulco (CNMO 5310); dorsal view of valves, A, detail of intermediate area sculpturing; B detail of postmucronal area sculpturing; C, articulamentum detail of valve IV; D, insertion teeth; E, head valve in dorsal view; F, head valve sculpturing detail; G, detail of intermediate and lateral area of valve IV; H, girdle scales; I, radular teeth; J, detail of central teeth. Chiton albolineatus, disarticulated valves of a specimen BL 18.23 mm, Piedra de Tlacoyunque, Tecpan de Galeana (CNMO 5337); valves in dorsal view, K, head valve; L, intermediate valve IV; M, tail valve.

FIGURE 11. Chiton albolineatus, disarticulated valves of a specimen BL 18.3 mm, Piedra de Tlacoyunque, Tecpan de Galeana (CNMO 5337), valves in ventral view, A, head valve; B, intermediate valve IV; C, tail valve. SEM images of a specimen BL 12.4 mm length; valves in dorsal view, D, detail of girdle scales; E, radular teeth. Chiton articulatus, disarticulated valves of a specimen BL 26.4 mm, Barra de Potosí, Zihuatanejo de Azueta (CNMO 5291), valves in dorsal view, F, head valve; G, intermediate valve IV; H, tail valve. Valves in ventral view, I, head valve; J, intermediate valve IV; K, tail valve.