Lepidozona clathrata ( Reeve, 1847 )

Reyes-Gómez, Adriana, Vargas-Ponce, Ofelia, Galván-Villa, Cristian, Salgado-Barragán, José, Esqueda-González, Ma. Del Carmen & Ríos-Jara, Eduardo, 2023, Inventory of chiton species (Polyplacophora) from the rocky intertidal of the Northern Gulf of California, with an illustrated taxonomic key, Zootaxa 5296 (2), pp. 147-178 : 158

Lepidozona clathrata ( Reeve, 1847)

( Figures 2F , 6A–F )

Chiton clathratus Reeve, 1847: 12–27 . Chresonymy and synonymy in Ferreira (1974).

Type material. According to Ferreira (1974) he did not find the holotype, which was recorded to be held in BMNH .

Type locality. According to Ferreira (1974) at San Felipe, Baja California (BC), México .

Material examined. Four specimens, BL 18.1–19.2 mm.

Habitat. On large rocks with brown and red crusty algae patches, in exposed areas that are semi–dry during low tide. The chitons were found in the lower part of loose rocks buried in sand in a moist environment.

Remarks. Lepidozona clathrata has a sculpture of radial ribs with rounded knobs on head, tail valves and lateral areas of intermediate valves ( Figs. 6A–D ); lateral areas with 3–4 ribs with aligned somewhat elevated knobs ( Fig. 6B ). Central areas with sculpture of thick red, jugal area with 3–5 longitudinal elevated ribs ( Figs. 6B–D ). Dorsal girdle scales with a horn–like projection located on its apical edge ( Fig. 6E ). Major lateral radular tooth unicuspid, minor lateral shorter than the central tooth ( Fig. 6F ).

Lepidozona clathrata is a relatively large species compared to other species of the genus Lepidozona from the Gulf of California ( Kaas & Van Belle 1987), with a maximum length of 38 mm. This species is characterized by having a coarse tegmentum, girdle dorsally covered with large sub–rectangular scales (240 μm) with rounded edges and a small, short protrusion in the shape of a horn at the apical edge of the scale ( Fig. 6E ).

Figures

FIGURE 2. Chiton species obtained from the Northern Gulf of California. A. Dorsal and lateral views of Ischnochiton guatemalensis CUCBACM 00450. B. Dorsal and lateral views of Ischnochiton tridentatus CUCBACM 00453. C. Dorsal and lateral views of Stenoplax limaciformis CUCBACM 00455. D. Dorsal and lateral views of Stenoplax mariposa CUCBACM 00459. E. Dorsal and lateral views of Stenoplax sonorana CUCBACM 00462. F. Dorsal view of Lepidozona clathrata CUCBACM 00464. G. Dorsal view of Lepidozona serrata CUCBACM 00471. H. Dorsal and lateral views of Lepidozona subtilis CUCBACM 00475. I. Dorsal and lateral views of Callistochiton elenensis CUCBACM 00476.

FIGURE 6. A–F. Scanning electron microscope images of Lepidozona clathrata CUCBACM 00464. A. Dorsal view of half head valve. B. Dorsal view of half of intermediate valve IV. C. Dorsal view of intermediate valve IV detail of central area. D. Dorsal view of detail of tail valve showing sculpture of the antero and post-mucronal area. E. Dorsal girdle scales. F. Radular teeth. G–L. Scanning electron microscope images of Lepidozona serrata CUCBACM 00471. G. Dorsal view of head valve. H. Dorsal view of intermediate valve IV. I. Dorsal view of tail valve. J. Detail of aesthetes of intermediate valve IV. K. Dorsal girdle scales. L. Radular teeth.