Description: One of most common subtidal chitons, they are broadly oval in shape and can be up to 18 mm long and up to 10 mm across. Their plates are more broad relative to the girdle, which is narrow, than other species. The girdle has small, rectangular, overlapping scales. The valves are often off-white with grey, dark brown to black encrustations, and have very little sculpturing visible.

Habitat: Lower shore and sublittoral, usually under boulders or cobbles.

Distribution: Found all around Britain and Ireland.

Similar Species: Could be confused with Lepidochitona cinerea.

Key Identification Features:

• Broadly oval in shape
• Broad plates relative to girdle. which is narrow.
• Off-white valves often heavily encrusted with grey, dark brown or black.
• Little sculpturing visible on valves.
• Overlapping, rectangular scales on girdle.

Distribution Map from NBN: Leptochiton asellus at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Leptochiton asellus at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

GBIF data for Leptochiton asellus

WoRMS: Leptochiton asellus at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Leptochiton asellus (Gmelin, 1791). AphiaID: 140199.

Classification: Biota; Animalia; Mollusca; Polyplacophora; Neoloricata; Lepidopleurida; Lepidopleurina; Leptochitonidae; Leptochiton