Strange creature...ID please

webdr · 08-12-2006, 11:14 PM

Ive seen this guy once before and not again for about 4 months. I just saw it again and its alot bigger...about 1"
Its kind of like a heavy armoured rolly polly and moves about as fast as a snail. I touched and its hard but it wouldnt come off the rock. It definately moves and is about half way in a hole in this pic.
What is this??

jdbassin · 08-13-2006, 12:17 AM

it's a chiton, a snail with 8 plates rather than just 1 shell and very fast, Generally harmless and beneficial

jd

Fly Guy · 08-13-2006, 12:20 AM

agreed,
i read this post earlier and didnt answer becasue i couldnt for the life of me remember what it was called. I have a big lavender one that i see every couple of months like you said, hes like ten times bigger than any of the others i have and i like it when he shows up every now and then..........

webdr · 08-13-2006, 12:34 AM

thanks!

jennmac415 · 08-13-2006, 02:57 AM

I thought chitons moved very slowly??

Loverotties · 08-13-2006, 06:29 AM

Slow compared to a speeding bullet maybe.