About Tonicella insignis (Reeve, 1847)
Tonicella insignis, a species of chiton, has a characteristic eight-valve shell with camouflage patterning. While white wavy lines appear on all of its valves, the prominent distinctive white lines that identify this species are only present on the second through seventh valves. The shell's camouflage helps protect T. insignis from predators by helping the organism blend into its surrounding environment. Its eight-valve structure gives the chiton flexibility to crawl across uneven rocks, and lets it curl into a ball when threatened by external dangers. Tonicella insignis feeds primarily on phytoplankton and algae, which it consumes from floating water or growing on nearby rocks. This chiton is found along the North American Pacific coast, from coastal Alaska to coastal Oregon. Like other chitons, it lives on hard rocks in the subtidal zone, and can occur at depths of up to 52 meters below water.
