| Plaxiphora obtecta | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Polyplacophora |
| Order: | Chitonida |
| Family: | Mopaliidae |
| Genus: | Plaxiphora |
| Species: | P. obtecta |
| Binomial name | |
| Plaxiphora obtecta Carpenter in Pilsbry, 1893 | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Guildingia obtecta Iredale & Hull 1932; Morton & Miller 1968, 1973; Walsby & Morton 1982 | |
Plaxiphora obtecta is a large chiton in the family Mopaliidae, 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 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.
References
- Cook, Steve De C. (2010). New Zealand Coastal Marine Invertebrates. Vol. 1. Canterbury University Press, NZ. ISBN 978-1877257-60-5.
- Marshall, Bruce (2022). "Plaxiphora obtecta Carpenter, 1893". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species.
- "Chiton, Giant". Marine Life Database. University of Otago.
- Morton, J.; Miller, M. (1968). The New Zealand Sea Shore. Auckland NZ: Collins.
| Taxon identifiers | |
|---|---|
| Plaxiphora obtecta | |