Molecular identification of the Edible Chiton, Chiton articulatus (Polyplacophora: Chitonidae) from Mexican Tropical Pacific

Chitons are one of the understudied classes of molluscs in Mexico. Yet, they are common and abundant inhabitants of the rocky shores that make up large parts of the coastlines along the Mexican Pacific. Chiton articulatus Sowerby I, 1832 is one of the most common species in Mexico and is considered as endemic to the biogeographic ecoregion of the Mexican Tropical Pacific. Specimens of C. articulatus were collected in the mid-upper intertidal at several localities. All collected animals were morphologically characterised, and four specimens were selected for molecular characterisation based on COI-5P and 16S sequences. The molecular data revealed that all specimens belong to the same species, C. articulatus. In phylogenetic trees based on both markers, these specimens represented an independent clade with C. tuberculatus as sister species. Our study presents the first molecular data for C. articulatus, a species of economic importance.