Plaxiphora obtecta

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Plaxiphora obtecta
Plaxiphora obtecta chiton.jpg
P. obtecta in situ
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Mollusca
Class:
Polyplacophora
Subclass:
Neoloricata
Order:
Chitonida
Superfamily:
Family:
Mopaliidae
Genus:
Plaxiphora
Species:
P. obtecta

Carpenter in Pilsbry, 1893[1]
Synonyms

Guildingia obtecta Iredale & Hull 1932; Morton & Miller 1968, 1973; Walsby & Morton 1982

Plaxiphora obtecta is a large chiton in the family Mopaliidae,[2] endemic to New Zealand, where it is most often found on the West Coast of the North Island. It is called Haka-hiwihiwi by some Māori[3] and was likely a food source.

Description and habitat[]

Up to 90 millimetres (3.5 in) long and 65 millimetres (2.6 in) wide, making it one of the largest chitons found in New Zealand. It has a broad dark brown girdle dotted with small short bristles, and reduced dark green valves, sometimes with a paler stripe down the centre. It is frequent around the holdfasts of algae and in rock crevices around the low intertidal zone, usually on exposed coasts.[4]

References[]

  1. ^ Cook, Steve De C., New Zealand Coastal Marine Invertebrates Vol 1, Canterbury University Press, NZ 2010 ISBN 978-1877257-60-5
  2. ^ "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Plaxiphora obtecta Carpenter, 1893".
  3. ^ http://www.marinelife.ac.nz/species/983
  4. ^ Morton, J. & Miller, M., “The New Zealand Sea Shore”, Collins, Auckland NZ 1968
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