A few days ago, Eric came across a gumboot chiton (Cryptochiton stelleri) on the road. An odd place for a chiton, to say the least! Well, today I encountered the remains of at least 6 gumboot chitons in the grassland, about 50 feet away from the beach! Here are two photos, one with most of the tissue still in place, another where only the plates remain.
Gumboot chitons washed ashore during an algal bloom in late August/early September this year. It's interesting to imagine a possible connection between phytoplankton in the ocean and chitons in the grassland!
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