Mollusk

Gumboot chiton

Cryptochiton stelleri

Rocky shores and kelp forests

Photo: (c) Jerry Kirkhart, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY · Source and license. Displayed as a resized crop. Photograph illustrates the species.

Habitat: Rocky shores and kelp forests
Habitat zone: Low shore and subtidal habitat; see local record depths below
Viewing activities: Beach / tidepool · Scuba diving

What to look for

A large chiton whose fleshy outer covering hides its shell plates.

What it eats

Mostly red algae; also sea lettuce and kelp.

Wider distribution

Alaska and western Japan south to California’s Channel Islands.

When to look

The available records do not establish a reliable local viewing season. Use the map’s month filter to inspect dated observations; it does not predict an encounter.

RECORDED PRESENCE

Where has Gumboot chiton been recorded?

These destination links use the same area and date cutoff as the map: 40 km circles, except for the four named regional rectangles. Checked 2026-09-19. Counts describe source records, not individual animals or sighting odds.

Channel IslandsCalifornia, United States40 km radius · 2402 source records since 2016About this destination →La JollaCalifornia, United States40 km radius · 114 source records since 2016About this destination →Monterey BayCalifornia, United StatesRegional rectangle · 40731 source records since 2016About this destination →

Sources, search boundaries and limitations