Economic Significance
There have been numerous records of chitons being eaten by humans throughout the world.(3) These small organisms have been thought to greatly contribute to Aboriginal diet in Australia. (3)
Many Acanthopleura species, including A. gemmata are thought to be an important component of the coastal Aboriginal diet in the western Kimberly, Western Australia.(3) Many shell heaps (Figure 1) have also been seen on the Lesser Antilles that consist mainly of the Acanthopleura species, which have been thought to be eaten by the original inhabitants of these islands!
Apart from being an important food source, chitons are of negligible economical significance.(3) However much more needs to be learned about their ecological significance for the intertidal community.(3)
Figure 1. A shell of Acanthopleura gemmata
|