Looks like a shell, but...

[nkw5]

I found a whole bunch of these together on the ocean floor about in 30 ft at Monterey. It feels like a shell, but obviously it doesn't close. I know virtually nothing about marine biology. Can someone help me out and ID this thing?

 

[H2Andy]

wow... it doesn't look like any univalve i know...

and it doesn't look like any bivalve i know either =)

so i'm stuck

 

[diver_paula]

Looks like a butterfly to me!

Seriously - VERY INTERESTING!


Were they lined up at or just laying in a jumble?

 

[SeanQ]

Could it be a plate from a Chiton? I've never seen a single plate before so I don't know if it's the right shape.

 

[Rick Murchison]

Perhaps it's a snail operculum. Never seen one that shape before though.
Rick

 

[nkw5]

They (about 6 and not of uniform size) were in the same area in no discernable pattern but not on top of each other.

Were they lined up at or just laying in a jumble?

 

[nkw5]

Could it be a plate from a Chiton? I've never seen a single plate before so I don't know if it's the right shape.

Yup. SeanQ, you have solved my mystery. I found a plate from a giant pacific gumboot chiton. For more info see:
http://www.coastalwebweaver.com/GumbootChiton/

Thanks! Now I can go obsess about something else.

 

[diver_paula]

Nice find - on the information and the plates. The link had some good information. Even showed what I was thinking about the plates being linked together somehow. Although, I'd never have come up with chiton!

So what's the new obsession?

Paula

 

[H2Andy]

too cool, guys

really interesting stuff

 

[nkw5]

So what's the new obsession?

Paula

Hmm. New obsession? Let me just obsess about what it will be until it strikes me. (I have way too much time on my hands!)