E-Fauna Photo Gallery

Tonicella undocaerulea  (Blue-Lined Chiton)

Photo of Tonicella undocaerulea by Aaron Baldwin
© Aaron Baldwin (Photo ID #2276)

Photographer's Submitted Details

Photo Location John Brown's Beach, Sitka Sound, Alaska Photographer Aaron Baldwin
Habitat Lowest intertidal and subtidal
Photo Date Upload Date October 27, 2007
Elevation (m)
UTM Zone # Latitude
UTM Easting Longitude
UTM Northing Photo ID # 2276
Notes This beautiful chiton is characterized by the bright turquoise lines on the plates. Unfortunately these quickly turn white when preserved. Similar to the Red-lined chiton, T. lineata, the best way to separate the two is to look at the headplate (in this photo bottom left corner). In T. undocaerulea the concentric lines are not bordered by very fine, dark brown lines as the are in T. lineata. Also T. undocaerulea tends to be slightly more elongate than is T. lineata. Photo taken with Pentax Optio


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