Chiton squamosum Linnaeus, 1764

This three inch chiton is one of the handsome scaled-gridle chitons of the Caribbean. The valves are a dull, ashen-gray with wide, irregular, dull-brown, longitudinal stripes. Posterior edge of first seven valves has four or five squares of blackish brown. Lateral areas of middle valves have six to eight rows of small beads between which are microscopic pinholes. Central areas are smoothish, with fine, transverse scratches. The girdle has alternating pale stripes of grayish green and grayish white.
br> Illustrated specimen from Kay Gudnason Collection