Cryptoconchus porosus, or the butterfly chiton, is a species of large chiton or "coat of mail shell", a marine polyplacophoran mollusk in the family Acanthochitonidae.

Distribution

This species of chiton is endemic to New Zealand.

Description

This is a large, long, thick, and fleshy chiton, with a sky-blue or occasionally pinkish or orange tinged valves, hidden under the girdle, which varies from dull orange to dark greenish.

The length is 73 mm, and width 33 mm, but these measurements are from a dried specimen, and the animal is much larger in life.

References

• Powell A W B, William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland 1979 ISBN 0-00-216906-1