This one-half to one inch chiton has a sandy girdle with a minute spiculose fringe. Opposite all or some sutural areas there is a long hair with fine recurved short hairs along its stem. The valves appear smooth to the naked eye but are minutely granular under a lens. The color of the girdle is cream with orange or red blotches. The valves can be scarlet red in color with 4 small blue spots on the posterior edge or mottled olivaceous green and maroon. Some authors believe that Basioliochiton heathi Berry is a synonym.
Illustrated specimen on right from Burghardt Collection