Chiton

ocean · mollusc · armor-plated

Clinging rock experts. Chitons have eight curved shell plates that overlap like roof tiles, letting them grip rocks so tightly that predators can't pry them off. They can flatten their bodies to fit into tiny cracks.

Ancient ocean dwellers. Chitons have been living in our oceans for hundreds of millions of years. Scientists have found fossil chitons that show they've barely changed their basic design since ancient times.

Rock and reef residents. You'll find chitons clinging to rocks and coral reefs in oceans all around the world, from shallow tide pools to the deep sea. They're loners that spend most of their time in the same small spot.

Algae scrapers. Chitons use a special mouth part called a radula, covered with teeth made of the hardest material in nature, to scrape algae and tiny plants off rocks. This is how they find food.

Armor protection. If a chiton gets attacked, it can curl into a ball thanks to its flexible overlapping plates, or it stays flat and uses its armor to protect its soft underside.