Plaxiphora obtecta | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Mollusca |
Class: | Polyplacophora |
Order: | Chitonida |
Family: | Mopaliidae |
Genus: | Plaxiphora |
Species: | P. obtecta
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Binomial name | |
Plaxiphora obtecta Carpenter in Pilsbry, 1893[1]
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Synonyms | |
Guildingia obtecta Iredale & Hull 1932; Morton & Miller 1968, 1973; Walsby & Morton 1982 |
Plaxiphora obtecta is a large chiton in the family Mopaliidae,[2] 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[3] and was likely a food source.
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.[4]