Intertidal chitons (Mollusca: Polyplacophora) from the rocky coastline of Guerrero, México, with the description of a new species
Author
Reyes-Gómez, Adriana
Author
Flores-Garza, Rafael
Author
Galeana-Rebolledo, Lizeth
Author
Hernández-Vera, Gerardo
Universidad de Guadalajara, Centro Universitario de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Departamento de Botánica y Zoología, Carretera a Nogales km. 15.5, Las Agujas Nextipac, Zapopan, Jalisco, C. P. 45110 México.
Author
Galván-Villa, Cristian M.
Author
Torreblanca-Ramírez, Carmina
Author
Flores-Rodríguez, Pedro
Author
García-Ibañez, Sergio
Author
Ríos-Jara, Eduardo
text
Zootaxa
2022
2022-06-23
5155
4
451
492
journal article
80415
10.11646/zootaxa.5155.4.1
2e18793c-3344-4542-92f3-1775f6276bb7
1175-5326
6691172
E6179D38-97E8-4EAB-8F28-8CF6E508C090
Stenoplax limaciformis
(G.B. Sowerby I, 1832)
Figures 2I–L
,
9E–K
,
10A–J
Distribution.
Isla Tiburón and Isla Carmen, Gulf of California,
México
to Inner Lobos Island,
Perú
, western coast of Central America (
Bullock 1985
).
Type specimens.
Holotype
BMNH 1980007
/1 (
in
Kaas & Van Belle 1987
).
Type
Locality.
According
to
Kaas & Van Belle (1987)
Inner Lobos Islands
,
Perú
;
Central America
at
Guacomayo
.
Material examined
.
115 specimens
, maximum size of
33.5 mm
long,
11.2 mm
wide. K (n=12); L (n=10); M (n=8); N (n=12); D (n=12); B (n=9); F (n=10); A (n=8), U (n=13); J (n=5); G (n=5); H (n=7).
Habitat.
This species is present in a variety of habitats and represents one of the most common chitons found in our surveys. It is also distributed in the shallow subtidal (
6–12 m
). Adult and juvenile specimens were found on medium-sized and smaller rocks, with crustose brown and red and filamentous green algae; it was occasionally found in tide pools and down to
12 m
under stones in sand. It was found with
C
.
lurida
,
C
.
albolineatus
and occasionally with
C
.
elenensis
.
Remarks.
Stenoplax limaciformis
displays a highly variable tegmentum color and sculpturing patterns. Our examination revealed individuals with ribs formed by aligned nodules, while others show irregular, uninterrupted ribs. Some specimens bear irregular nodules (in size and shape) at the periphery of the valve’s tegmentum, which progressively become more regular towards the apex. Other specimens have ribs that are strongly discontinuous at the periphery and show a zigzag pattern around the mucro and on the jugal areas of the head and tail valve.