Dorid-like chiton from Moss Beach, California

December 18, 2006
From: John Albers-Mead

I found this mystery creature on a very low tide at the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve in Moss Beach where I'm a volunteer naturalist. At first I thought it was a small sea lemon but when I looked closer it was missing a few important nudibranch details - namely rhinophores and gills.

Locality: Fitzgerald Marine Reserve, Moss Beach, exposed, California, USA, Pacific, 04 December 2006, Intertidal. Length: 1.5 inches. Photographer: John Albers-Mead.

It was probably an inch and a half long and was very rough and gritty feeling on its back. The foot had a strong grip and it immediately stuck to my finger when I examined it. We have gum boot chitons here so I was thinking this might be a juvenile but I'm not sure. Any help with an id would be appreciated.

- John

nudibranch@jaminc.com

Albers-Mead, J., 2006 (Dec 18) Dorid-like chiton from Moss Beach, California. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/18960

Hi John,

Wow, if I could have a quarter for everytime I have been to Moss Beach, I'd be a rich man. I am fairly sure your critter is a Gumboot, or Giant chiton, Cryptochiton stelleri, as you suggest. Usually the texture of juvenile gumboot's is more warty than the adults, as your photo shows here. I have been sent these several times by collectors thinking it was some sort of dorid. First things I note are no rhinophoral sheaths, and no dorsal gill

Thanks for sharing this,
Dave Behrens

Behrens, D. W., 2006 (Dec 18). Comment on Dorid-like chiton from Moss Beach, California by John Albers-Mead. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/18960

Factsheet

Chitons, Amphineura and Polyplacophora

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