USVI-On-Line

I give up. What the hell is this thing?

It's a chiton!

Eeeewwwwwwww.

The chiton is the thing in the middle, right, with the plates? What is the spikey-ness surrounding it? Was this underwater, ifloat?

This is a bit magnified, but chitons aren't eeeew-y at all-- they stay in pretty much one place on the rocks. They are mollusks, like clams or limpets, very common, supposedly quite edible, but i've never tried one!

Wow, that is the weirdest looking creature..I'm going to have read more about it.

Here's what I got:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiton

They are interesting in a strange sort of way. Cool picture!

I have small versions of that one (about 5 mm long) in my reef tank at home. They hardly move, have a very hard exterior & are harmless. Pretty much naturally occuring in any ocean. Not exactly sure what they eat though, but my guess is the coraline algae.

Ah, thanks! Chitons. Interesting to read about them. I guess the black and white feathery parts around the segments are the gills then.

I think it's beautiful.

These were about four or five inches long, and firmly attached to old coral in the tide pool areas of Hawksnest.

There is even Chiton Poop in the picture. I have a picture of a sea cucumber next to a big old pile, and a peeing donkey. It just happens accidentally.

So it's a chitter critter? Ha,Ha,Ha, I'm sorry it's Friday yah know! Parafins

We just noticed these things for first time last Saturday. Europa Beach in the wet rocks at the water line. Great timing this is asked.....