''Onithochiton neglectus neglectus'' is a subspecies of chiton in the

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

Chitonidae Chitonidae is a family of chitons or polyplacophorans, marine mollusks whose shell is composed of eight articulating plates or valves. There are fifteen extant genera in three subfamilies. Subfamilies and genera Subfamilies and genera within th ...

Description

''O. neglectus neglectus'' is a brooding chiton, which means that the eggs develop attached to the body of females.

Ecology

''O. neglectus'' often inhabits the holdfasts of '' Durvillaea'' southern bull kelp. Genetic and shell morphological variation in the species appears to have been affected by the frequency individuals inhabiting ''Durvillaea'' holdfasts, and the population structure of ''O. neglectus'' has likely been influenced by individuals being transported within buoyant rafts of ''Durvillaea'' species.

Distribution

This subspecies is endemic to

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 ...

, being mostly found at the East Coast of the North Island and the South Island.

References

* Powell A. W. B., ''New Zealand Mollusca'', William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1979 Chitonidae Chitons of New Zealand Subspecies {{Chiton-stub