California Wrinkled Whelk [Cryptochiton stelleri]
Description
Also known as Gumboot Chiton, this large marine mollusk is notable for its broad, reddish-brown body, which is often covered in algae and other marine organisms. It is native to the rocky intertidal zone along the Pacific coast of North America, from Alaska to California. It is primarily a nocturnal feeder, consuming various types of algae.
Taxonomy
| Phylum |
Mollusks
Mollusca
|
|---|---|
| Class |
Gastropods
Gastropoda
|
| Order |
Neogastropoda
Neogastropoda
|
| Family |
Whelks
Buccinidae
|
| Genus |
Wrinkled whelks
Nassaria
|