Chitons form a peculiar and highly interesting class of molluscs, known with certainty to exist since the Ordovician, and widespread in all world seas to depths from 0 to over 7,000 m. In recent years taxonomists all over the world have much contributed to our knowledge of the chitons and their synonymy, so that the number of living species now amounts to some 800. The authors propose to not only compile all actual knowledge about the living chitons, but, where possible, a after a careful study of the type material, to systematically describe and illustrate every known -- or hitherto unknown -- species. In most cases the detailed figures are new and drawn by the senior author, P. Kaas. The "Monograph of Living Chitons" is planned to appear in ten volumes.

This fifth of the planned eight volumes of the Monograph of Living Chitons, a systematic account of more than 800 recognized species in this class of Mollusca, deals with the completion of the family Ischnochitonidae and a total revision of the family Mopaliidae. Earlier volumes in the series are updated in a preliminary 40 pages paragraph of additions.In the present volume 141 species are described, of which nine are new to science. All species are depicted in detail in mostly original drawings by the senior author. More than 50 maps show the world-wide distribution of every species.Descriptions are accompanied by a complete bibliography and synonymy, providing an indispensable source of information of any worker on this interesting group of animals, professionals as well as advanced students. An elaborate list of references and index complete the volume.

Chitons form a peculiar and highly interesting class of molluscs, known with certainty to exist since the Ordovician, and widespread in all world seas to depths from 0 to over 7,000 m. In recent years taxonomists all over the world have much contributed to our knowledge of the chitons and their synonymy, so that the number of living species now amounts to some 800. The authors propose to not only compile all actual knowledge about the living chitons, but, where possible, a after a careful study of the type material, to systematically describe and illustrate every known -- or hitherto unknown -- species. In most cases the detailed figures are new and drawn by the senior author, P. Kaas. The Monograph of Living Chitons is planned to appear in ten volumes.