Chitons are a simple type of shellfish. They have eight shell-like plates on their back and a broad muscular foot for clinging on to rocks. If they are dislodged they can roll into a ball. The typical shellfish mantle forms a band, or girdle, around the rim of the shell. In this common species the girdle has dark stripes and resembles a snake’s skin.
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Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand
Photograph by Melanie Lovell-Smith
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Comments
this species is common
Jay (not verified)
11 April 2011
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