''Plaxiphora caelata'' is a small
chiton
Chitons () are marine molluscs of varying size in the class Polyplacophora (), formerly known as Amphineura. About 940 extant and 430 fossil species are recognized.
They are also sometimes known as gumboots or sea cradles or coat-of-mail sh ...
in the family
Mopaliidae
Mopaliidae is a family of marine molluscs in the class Polyplacophora.
Genera
There are 10 recognized genera:
* '' Amicula'' Gray, 1847
* '' Dendrochiton'' Berry, 1911
* '' Gallardochiton'' Sirenko, 2007
* '' Katharina'' Gray, 1847
* '' Mopali ...
, endemic to the main islands of
New Zealand
New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 List of islands of New Zealand, smaller islands. It is the ...
, Stewart Island and the
Chatham Islands
The Chatham Islands ( ) ( Moriori: ''Rēkohu'', 'Misty Sun'; mi, Wharekauri) are an archipelago in the Pacific Ocean about east of New Zealand's South Island. They are administered as part of New Zealand. The archipelago consists of about t ...
.
Description and habitat
A cryptic species up to 45 millimetres long but usually 20-25 millimetres, the shape and colour of the
valves
A valve is a device or natural object that regulates, directs or controls the flow of a fluid (gases, liquids, fluidized solids, or slurries) by opening, closing, or partially obstructing various passageways. Valves are technically fitting ...
is highly variable. Head valve has eight ribs crossed by chevroned wrinkles, median valves a single radial rib on each side, with the tiny tail valve almost triangular. All are cream to dull grey-green coloured with streaks or blotches of dark green, brown, orange or white. The leathery girdle is wide at the sides and narrow at both ends, often with short bristles, usually dark brown with lighter blotches. In the North Island the dorsal surface is sometimes covered in filamentous algae.
Like other members of the genus it favours open rock surfaces on wave exposed shores, in crevices or at the base of shaded overhangs in the low
intertidal zone
The intertidal zone, also known as the foreshore, is the area above water level at low tide and underwater at high tide (in other words, the area within the tidal range). This area can include several types of habitats with various species ...
.
[Morton, J. & Miller, M., “The New Zealand Sea Shore”, Collins, Auckland NZ 1968]
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q3797688
Mopaliidae
Chitons described in 1847