Slightly ridged shells with leathery surrounding

predators: crabs, fish, anemones,  

may live up to 25 years

To collect chitons it is best to wait for a minus tide and pick yourself a rocky area

The specimens are left in this solution for at least 24 hours, sometimes longer for large specimens.

You can then go one step further by placing the chiton specimen under a scope and clean the surface and girdle surface

They are then glued back together in THE SAME ORDER as originally found. This makes a nice display but is scientifically lacking since the girdle is gone.

fathom -

a nautical unit of measure, six feet, used primarily for measuring the depth of the ocean by means of a sounding line.

ferruginous -

rust colored, brownish or yellowish-red.

fimbricated -

having a fringed edge or border.

flammules -

spots of color resembling a small flame, reddish, tinged with red.

funicular -

pertaining to a cord, shaped like a small cord or band.

girdle -

a flexible, leathery, muscular integument holding the chiton valves in place, often ornamented with scales, spicules, or hairy processes.