We were doing surveys during the low tide this morning (27 April 2024) when Eric spotted this unusual interaction. The holdfast of a small Sea Palm (Postelsia palmaeformis) had grown over and appeared to be attached to a chiton, Nuttallina californica!
Chitons are mobile grazers, moving over the surface of the rock and feeding on algae. Perhaps they take breaks and stay in place for a while, which allowed the kelp to attach to it?
We didn't actually pull on the chiton to see if the haptera (root-like outgrowths) were definitely attached to the chiton, but it sure looks like it:
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