Chitons [Chitonida]
Description
Chitonida is the largest and most diverse order of the class Polyplacophora. Members of this order, commonly known as chitons, possess eight articulating aragonite plates on their dorsal side. These marine mollusks have a worldwide distribution, inhabiting intertidal and subtidal zones down to deep waters. Chitons are characterized by their unique molluscan body plan, which includes a muscular foot used for locomotion, a radula for feeding, and a mantle that secretes the protective plates. They primarily feed on algae scraped from rocks and other surfaces.