Plaxiphora obtecta

Plaxiphora obtecta is a large chiton in the family Mopaliidae,^[2] endemic to New Zealand, where it is most often found on the West Coast of the North Island. It is called Haka-hiwihiwi by some Māori^[3] and was likely a food source.

Plaxiphora obtecta
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Polyplacophora
Order:	Chitonida
Family:	Mopaliidae
Genus:	Plaxiphora
Species:	P. obtecta
Binomial name
Plaxiphora obtecta Carpenter in Pilsbry, 1893[1]
Synonyms
Guildingia obtecta Iredale & Hull 1932; Morton & Miller 1968, 1973; Walsby & Morton 1982

Description and habitat

Up to 90 millimetres (3.5 in) long and 65 millimetres (2.6 in) wide, making it one of the largest chitons found in New Zealand. It has a broad dark brown girdle dotted with small short bristles, and reduced dark green valves, sometimes with a paler stripe down the centre. It is frequent around the holdfasts of algae and in rock crevices around the low intertidal zone, usually on exposed coasts.^[4]