Hind’s Chiton (Mopalia hindsii)

Description: The eight plates on the Hind’s chiton can be light to dark brown and often has a lighter spot at the point on each plate. The girdle can range from dark brown to tan to orange color. The backside of the girdle has a distinct notch in it. The total size of the chiton can be up to 10 cm long.

Habitat: These chitons like rocks on the exposed shore from the mid intertidal to the shallow subtidal. They are found from Alaska through California.

Diet: Hind’s chitons feed on bryozoans, filamentous algae, amphipods, and barnacles.

Tide Pool Tidbits:

• They may have a symbiotic flatworm (Nexilis epichitonius) living within their mantle cavity.

References: The New Beachcomber’s Guide to the Pacific Northwest by J Duane Sept, Walla Walla University