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Story: Shellfish

Butterfly chiton

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Butterfly chiton

The butterfly chiton’s girdle (outer rim) extends over the shell, hiding its greenish-blue valves. Like other chitons, it grazes on thin films of seaweed growing on intertidal rocks.

Using this item

Department of Conservation

Reference: 10048370

by Paddy Ryan

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How to cite this page

Maggy Wassilieff, Shellfish – Chitons, tusk shells and rare classes, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/8033/butterfly-chiton (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Maggy Wassilieff, published 2 March 2009.