Diversidad y microestructura de quitones (Mollusca: Polyplacophora) del Caribe de Costa Rica

Abstract

The polyplacophorans of the coral reef on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica have been insuffi-ciently studied. The examination of coral rubble accumulated in the shallow sublitoral waters on four collection stations in Provincia Limón revealed a higher diversity of chitons than was documented. From the country eight species were previously known: Ischnochiton erythronotus (C.B. Adams 1845); Ischnoplax pectinata (Sowerby 1840); Stenoplax boogii (Haddon 1886); S. purpurascens (C.B. Adams 1845); Acanthopleura granulata(Gmelin 1791); Chiton marmoratus Gmelin 1791; C. tuberculatus Linnaeus 1758 and Acanthochitona rhodea(Pilsbry 1893). This study added five more species that are reported here for the first time: Callistochiton porto-belensis Ferreira 1976; Ischnochiton kaasi Ferreira 1987; I.pseudovirgatus Kaas 1972; Acanthochitona balesaeAbbott 1954 and Cryptoconchus floridanus (Dall 1889).