Aesthete canals in the chiton Euleptochiton spatulatus from the Pennsylvanian of Ohio

Thin sections of the plates of the Pennsylvanian chiton Euleptochiton spatulatus (Hoare, Sturgeon and Hoare 1972) show the pattern and sizes of the aesthete canals. In general the canals are slightly curved extending from the dorsal surface to the ventral surface. Canals close to the articulamentum layer curve upward around the layer and run longitudinally parallel to the dorsal surface before curving to the dorsal surface or extending to the anterior margin. Canals near the lateral and anterior margins curve laterally to the margins. The canals average .05 mm in diameter and are spaced .01 mm apart. Micraesthete and megalaesthete structures were not seen in the sections. One section shows only longitudinal canals probably representing a new taxon. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]