butterfly-shaped shell with photos

[bardite]

In the past couple of weeks I found several shell fragments with an unusual shape.  I have lived on the coast in the Pacific Northwest (California/Oregon border) for 14 years and have never noticed shell fragments like these.  Hopefully, the photo posting works -- <a href="http://www.badongo.com/pic/4874771" target="_blank"><!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.badongo.com/pic/4874771">http://www.badongo.com/pic/4874771</a><!-- m --></a> and [urlhttp://www.badongo.com/pic/4874770[/url] .

Thanks for your help.

[bardite]

Argh!  Second pic attempt #2

<a href="http://www.badongo.com/pic/4874770" target="_blank"><!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.badongo.com/pic/4874770">http://www.badongo.com/pic/4874770</a><!-- m --></a>

[paul monfils]

This is a shell plate from the world's largest chiton, Cryptochiton stelleri, which reaches a foot in length.  The shell plates in this unusual chiton are internal, not visible at all in the living animal.

Here's a picture of the 8 shell plates, arranged as they would be inside the living animal:

<a href="http://members.cox.net/paulcyp/CRYPTstelleri.jpg" target="_blank"><!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://members.cox.net/paulcyp/CRYPTstelleri.jpg">http://members.cox.net/paulcyp/CRYPTstelleri.jpg</a><!-- m --></a>  <span class="petit">--Last edited by Paul Monfils on 2008-12-16 04:33:44 --</span>

[bardite]

That's it!  I have seen many chitons in the area.  Thanks so much.