San Simeon (San Luis Obispo Co.), October 6, 2002

We found 14 species of chitons at low tide when we stopped near San Simeon.
This one is an unusually large Placiphorella velata, an ambush predator who
traps small crustaceans and other prey with its anterior girdle margin. The
animal was placed in the black abalone shell (approx. 4" length) before
photographing.

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Image by D.J. Eernisse © 2002