Chaetopleura papilio (Spengler, 1797)

Schwabe, Enrico, 2006, Taxonomic notes on chitons. On some species of Chaetopleura from South Africa (Mollusca: Polyplacophora: Ischnochitonidae), African Invertebrates 47, pp. 23-30 : 27

Chaetopleura papilio (Spengler, 1797)

Figs 3 , 4

Among the type material of South African species which the author has been able to study was the holotype of Chaetopleura destituta Sykes, 1902 (BMNH 1902.11.7.8), which enables me to clarify the taxonomic position of this species. Ashby (1931: 26, pl. 4, figs 37–39) illustrated and described two specimens of Chaetopleura destituta , being aware that the material in his hands resembled Chaetopleura papilio , but interpreted valve differences as species characters. Barnard (1963: 333) correctely recognised that Ashby’s Chaetopleura destituta is ‘merely a low-arched and somewhat worn example of papilio ...’. Unfortunately, only one page later the same author synonymised Sykes’ Chaetopleura destituta with Chaetopleura pertusa (Reeve, 1847) . This synonymy was accepted by Kaas and Van Belle (1987, 1998) and Slieker (2000), but a comparision with Sykes’ type and the excellent illustration of the holotype of Chiton papilio Spengler, 1797 by Kaas and Knudsen (1992: 71, fig. 15) leaves no doubt that Chaetopleura destituta is conspecific with Chaetopleura papilio .

Figures

Fig. 3. Chaetopleura papilio (Spengler, 1797), isolated valves of the holotype of Chaetopleura destituta Sykes, 1902 (BMNH 1902.II.7.8): (A) dorsal view of the head valve, (B) ventral view of the head valve, (C) dorsal view of the tail valve, (D) ventral view of the tail valve. Anterior of all valves at top. Scale bars = 1 mm.

Fig. 4. Chaetopleura papilio (Spengler, 1797), dorsal view of valve vi of the holotype of Chaetopleura destituta Sykes, 1902 (BMNH 1902.II.7.8), anterior at top. Scale bar = 1 mm.