Mystery from Washington State, USA
November 14, 2003
From: Julie
I was walking on the beach at Fort Warden State Park, in Port Townsend, Washington, USA. and came across lots of these ........ any idea what they are ?
Julie
cowgirlk9@earthlink.net
Julie, 2003 (Nov 14) Mystery from Washington State, USA. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/11359Dear Julie,
I am pretty sure they are chitons. Usually they don't look like slugs because they have 8 shell plates on their back but in this species the shells are hidden by layer of leathery skin. The regular bumps or ridges in your upper photo show where the shell plates are. This species is known as the Gumboot Chiton [Cryptochiton stelleri] and is also called Giant Pacific Chiton, Giant Red Chiton, Moccasin Chiton. It is the largest chiton in the world and can be found from Alaska to Channel Islands. It grows to more than 30cm long [12 inches].
Best wishes
Bill Rudman
Related messages
-
Strange thing in my tank
From: Brandon Buys, March 3, 2010 -
A slug-like chiton
From: John Markby, November 13, 2009 -
Dorid-like chiton from Moss Beach, California
From: John Albers-Mead, December 18, 2006 -
Some type of sea slug?
From: Chris Fourness, July 8, 2006 -
Re: Sluglike shelled creature from South Africa
From: Dawn Ahomed, March 15, 2006 -
Sluglike shelled creature from South Africa
From: D. Ahomed, March 13, 2006 -
Unidentified Canadian Sea Slug?
From: Jess Trueman, January 14, 2004 -
Slug? on live rock
From: Manuel Marquez, January 9, 2004 -
Re: Chiton or slug?
From: Frans Slieker, January 29, 2003 -
Alien in my tank
From: Anders Olausson, January 15, 2003 -
Chiton or slug?
From: Dee Ryden, November 27, 2002 -
Re: A Californian mystery
From: Rebecca Johnson, December 11, 1998 -
Re: A Californian mystery
From: Peter Firminger, December 11, 1998 -
A Californian mystery
From: JM, December 1, 1998