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Gumboot Chiton

Cryptochiton stelleri
Gumboot chiton

Gumboot Chiton

Cryptochiton stelleri
Other Common Names
Giant gumboot chiton, giant Pacific chiton, Chinese slipper
At the Aquarium
Rocky Coast
Other Common Names
Giant gumboot chiton, giant Pacific chiton, Chinese slipper

At the Aquarium

Rocky Coast

Appearance

The thick and leathery mantle of a gumboot chiton is brown or brick red with small bumps while the underside is orange or yellow. The mantle completely covers all of its 8 valve plates.

Habitat

Among rocks from mid-intertidal to 200 feet deep.

Diet

Generalist herbivore: variety of algae

Life History

Gumboot chitons spawn once a year in spring. A female lays a gelatinous string of eggs up to 3.3 feet long and this induces the males to release sperm into the water. After hatching, the larvae do not feed but swim for about 20 hours and then settle. Young gumboot chitons can often be found in sea urchin pits or other holes.

Can reach lengths of 14 inches and live at least 40 years.

IUCN Status

Not Evaluated

Ecosystem & Cultural Importance

Gumboot chitons sometimes provide a home to worms and/or pea crabs. Predators of the gumboot chiton include the lurid rock snail, ochre sea star, tidepool sculpin, cabezon, river otters, and sea otters.
Range
Eastern Pacific: Alaska to California
Western Pacific: Japan
On the Oregon Coast
You might find the butterfly-shaped valve plates of a gumboot chiton washed up on the beach or you might come across one while tidepooling during a very low tide.
Fun Facts
This is the largest chiton species in the world. If disturbed, it can roll into a ball. Chitons keep other organisms from growing on their surface by secreting a mucus. Gumboot chitons feed by using their radula to scrape along the surface of rocks for algae.

Citations & Other Resources

  • Animal Diversity Web
  • Invertebrates of the Salish Sea web
  • Lord, Joshua P. inchesLarval development, metamorphosis and early growth of the gumboot chiton Cryptochiton stelleri (Middendorff, 1847)(Polyplacophora: Mopaliidae) on the Oregon coast.inches Journal of molluscan studies 77.2 (2011): 182-188.
  • Lord, Joshua Pratt. Modeling of Life History Strategies in Organisms with Indeterminate Growth, with a Focus on the Distribution and Life History of the Gumboot Chiton Cryptochiton stelleri. Diss. University of Oregon, 2010.
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Since opening in 1992, the Oregon Coast Aquarium has been a premier attraction on Oregon’s central coast and an enduring advocate for the health of our ocean. For over three decades this 501(c)3 non-profit organization has supported marine wildlife and fostered environmental stewardship through its education programs, community partnerships, and rehabilitation efforts. Accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, the Oregon Coast Aquarium is consistently ranked as one of the top 10 aquariums in the U.S., providing visitors with opportunities to connect with 15,000 animals spanning 300 different species. The Oregon Coast Aquarium is located at 2820 S.E. Ferry Slip Rd., Newport, OR. Learn more about the Oregon Coast Aquarium and its vital work at aquarium.org, 541-867-3474. Follow us on Facebook or Twitter for the latest updates.

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