Plaxiphora obtecta
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.
| Plaxiphora obtecta | |
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| P. obtecta in situ | |
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| Superfamily: | Mopalioidea |
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| Species: | P. obtecta Carpenter in Pilsbry, 1893[1] |
| Synonyms | |
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Guildingia obtecta Iredale & Hull 1932; Morton & Miller 1968, 1973; Walsby & Morton 1982 | |
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
- Cook, Steve De C., New Zealand Coastal Marine Invertebrates Vol 1, Canterbury University Press, NZ 2010 ISBN 978-1877257-60-5
- http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=848117
- http://www.marinelife.ac.nz/species/983
- Morton, J. & Miller, M., “The New Zealand Sea Shore”, Collins, Auckland NZ 1968
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