Linda,

Remove the animal BEFORE drying, using a razorblade or sharp knife, if some
flesh remains you can set the chiton "bottom up" and fill the cavity with
bleach (might use a bowl filled with sand to stabilize the upside-down
specimen).

Disarticulated specimens take a bit of practice, but start by doing one
specimen at a time and setting the valves in proper order in any cleaning
solution (bleach). You'll soon note the head and tail valves and the
sequence of those between. One hint the slits on the ends of each valve will
be perpindicular to a flat surface if placed in the correct order.

Good luck!

Tom Rice
----- Original Message -----
From: "Linda Bush" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, October 12, 2001 2:11 PM
Subject: QUESTIONS ABOUT CHITONS


> Hi, Everyone!
>
> I know the field procedure in collecting a chiton, but I have two
> questions::
>
> 1.  How can one remove the animal after the chiton is flat and
>       dried, but leave the girdle intact?   Can the animal just be
>       removed with a sharp instrument without disturbing the
>       girdle?
>
> 2.    How can one mark the plates for correct rearticulation  if
>         one decides to remove the girdle too?   Or must the plates
>          be put back together by trial and error?
>
> Thanks,
> Linda
>