Acanthochitonidae is a family of marine mollusks belonging to the class Polyplacophora, commonly known as chitons. Species of the family is distributed widely most commonly around the Southern Hemisphere and the northeastern Atlantic.
Description Acanthochitonidae are characterized by sunken sutural tufts in the well-expanded girdle (chiton). The girdles are also scales or spicules to stick to rocky surfaces and a radula which allows them to feed.
Habitat Acanthochitonidae chitons are found in a variety of marine habitats, including rocky intertidal and subtidal zones, specifically rocky shores, reefs, and kelp forests.
Taxonomy The family Acanthochitonidae includes around 80 species, distributed across 12 genera and 2 subfamily.
Genera The following genera are included in this family:WoRMS : Acanthochitonidae Subfamily Acanthochitoninae Pilsbry, 1893 Acanthochitona Gray, 1821 Americhiton Watters, 1990 Bassethullia Pilsbry, 1928 Choneplax Carpenter MS, Dall, 1882 Craspedochiton Shuttleworth, 1853 Craspedoplax Iredale & Hull, 1925 Cryptoconchus de Blainville MS, Burrow, 1815 Leptoplax Carpenter MS, Dall, 1882 Notoplax H. Adams, 1862 Pseudotonicia Ashby, 1928
References
Vaught, K.C. (1989). A classification of the living Mollusca. American Malacologists: Melbourne, FL (USA). . XII, 195 pp