Guildingia obtecta

Taxobox
name = "Guildingia obtecta"
status =
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Mollusca
classis = Polyplacophora
ordo = Neoloricata
subordo = Acanthochitonina
familia = Mopaliidae
genus = "Guildingia"
species = "G. obtecta"
binomial = "Guildingia obtecta"
binomial_authority = (Pilsbry, 1893)
synonyms = "Plaxiphora obtecta" Pilsbry, 1893
"Plaxiphora obtecta" Suter, 1913

"Guildingia obtecta" is a large species of chiton in the family Mopaliidae.

Distribution

This species is endemic to the North and South islands of New Zealand, very abundant on the Auckland west coast.

Habitat

This chiton is found on exposed situations on the open coast.

Description

The shell is large, with smooth valves, and a wide hairy girdle.

Coloration of the valves is dark greenish-brown, with a pale stripe down the valve crests. The interior of the valves is bluish-green.

Length is up to 87 mm, and the width is up to 57 mm.

References

* Powell A. W. B., "New Zealand Mollusca", William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1979 ISBN 0-00-216906-1