About Tonicella lineata (W.Wood, 1815)
Tonicella lineata, first described by W. Wood in 1815, is a brightly colored species of chiton. Each of its eight valves bears straight or zig-zag lines that are blue, purple, or black. The background color of these valves is commonly brown or red, but it can also be bright blue, yellow, or orange. The surrounding girdle of this chiton is hairless, and ranges in color from brown to red or pink, frequently marked with regular yellow or white patches. Adult individuals of this species reach a maximum length of 5 cm. The natural distribution of Tonicella lineata extends from the Aleutian Islands of Alaska south to San Miguel Island, California; it is also found in the Sea of Okhotsk off Russia and in northern Japan. Additionally, the species has been observed on floating structures in Puget Sound, Washington. It inhabits intertidal and subtidal waters, and has been recorded at depths between 30 and 90 meters (98 to 295 feet).
