Variable Chiton

Ischnochiton maorianus

Description 3

A medium sized, 30 to 45mm long chiton which looks proportionately narrower than other chitons (more sausage than oval in outline). Has pale grey/brown coloured plates and evenly coloured narrow skirt/girdle of small scales, some descriptions mention tufts of bristles. Colour variations including longitudinal stripes of dark green, brown or black or dark with light coloured triangles along the crest. The central ridge often light lilac coloured. The rear plate is much larger than the front plate

Distribution 3

Found from intertidal to shallow sub-tidal depths. North Island, South Island, Stewart Island, Chatham Islands.

References 3

New Zealand Mollusca, Marine Land and Freshwater Shells, A W B Powell, 1979

Fuentes y créditos

  1. Tony Wills, sin restricciones conocidas de derechos (dominio publico), subido por Tony Wills
  2. (c) Tony Wills, algunos derechos reservados (CC BY-NC), subido por Tony Wills
  3. (c) Tony Wills, algunos derechos reservados (CC BY-SA)

Más información

NaturaLista Mapa

Depth intertidal
Places Chatham Islands, North Island, South Island, Stewart Island