California Chiton

Chitons are a type of mollusk that are
identified by eight shell plates held together by an outside oval of tissue called a
girdle. Most chitons are light sensitive so they’ll be found under rocks. Some
species are brightly colored while others are well camouflaged. Chitons are found
almost everywhere in the ocean – from the high intertidal zone to as deep as 4000
meters. The Mossy Chiton is covered in stiff hairs making it look fuzzy. They may
be found on the topsides of rocks during low tide, especially if it is overcast. At
night, they feed on red or green algae.