''Eudoxochiton nobilis'', commonly called the noble chiton, is a large

chiton Chitons () are marine molluscs of varying size in the class Polyplacophora (), formerly known as Amphineura. About 940 extant and 430 fossil species are recognized. They are also sometimes known as gumboots or sea cradles or coat-of-mail s ...

of the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Callochitonidae Callochitonidae is a family of molluscs belonging to the order Chitonida. Genera: * ''Callochiton'' Gray, 1847 * '' Eudoxochiton'' Shuttleworth, 1853 * ''Leloupia ''Leloupia'' is a monotypic genus of chitons belonging to the family Callochitoni ...

. The Māori name is Rangitīra.http://www.marinelife.ac.nz/species/821

Description and habitat

Found in

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

on open rock surfaces within kelp beds, on boulders or occasionally in rockpools. Adults are the largest chitons native to New Zealand at up to 110mm long, are oval shaped and surrounded by a leathery girdle covered in short bristles. Colouring varies from dark brown to olive-green, with the valves often encrusted or eroded, numerous shell eyes dotting the surfaces. Juveniles appear very flat compared to mature forms, with valves cryptically covered in mottled hues of pink, brown, green and yellow, often found under rocks or boulders resting in sand or gravel.

Distribution

Endemic to New Zealand. Frequent from the low intertidal zone to 30m deep around the two main islands,

Stewart Island Stewart Island ( mi, Rakiura, ' glowing skies', officially Stewart Island / Rakiura) is New Zealand's third-largest island, located south of the South Island, across the Foveaux Strait. It is a roughly triangular island with a total land ar ...

, and the

Chatham Chatham may refer to: Places and jurisdictions Canada * Chatham Islands (British Columbia) * Chatham Sound, British Columbia * Chatham, New Brunswick, a former town, now a neighbourhood of Miramichi * Chatham (electoral district), New Brunswic ...

and

Kermadec Islands The Kermadec Islands ( mi, Rangitāhua) are a subtropical island arc in the South Pacific Ocean northeast of New Zealand's North Island, and a similar distance southwest of Tonga. The islands are part of New Zealand. They are in total are ...

References

* Powell A. W. B., ''New Zealand Mollusca'', William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1979 * Cook, Steve De C., ''New Zealand Coastal Marine Invertebrates Vol 1'', Canterbury University Press, NZ 2010 Callochitonidae Chitons described in 1843 Taxa named by John Edward Gray {{Chiton-stub