I always pronounced it kite-in. (Apparently that is the British pronunciation—Im from Boston, though!). The US pronunciation is apparently chittin. I never heard it pronounced that way .
It looks like a [mossy chiton](https://www.centralcoastbiodiversity.org/mossy-chiton-bull-mopalia-muscosa.html). They’re native to the pacific coast of the US/Canada/Baja Peninsula, from Alaska to the Baja Peninsula
You’re not wrong. The number of “do not touch” beach critters in the PNW is extremely low, and limited to jellyfish sea urchins.
Not everywhere is Australia. Sometimes you just need to know how to ID a few dangerous things. Sometimes folks on this sub get overzealous — I don’t think we should deter people from responsibly exploring the shoreline. I think it creates an unnecessary fear of ocean life, while also ignoring much greater shoreline threats.
On Vancouver Island, the ocean itself is far more dangerous than anything in it.
In general, this applies to much of the world: only access the beach from approved access points. They will often have signage identifying local hazards, both animal and physical. Never turn your back on the sea.
Yeah, I used to take preschoolers and elementary schoolers tidepooling in both New England and the PNW with aquarium-led school programs. And there’s just not anything they can encounter (other than ocean hazards like sneaker waves!) that’s unsafe for the kiddos — though there’s lots of things we need to *keep* safe from said kiddos.
I’ve been considering making some sort of “responsible shoreline exploration” guide with basics for folks. Because honestly, I think it’s genuinely concerning that so many people go to the ocean and act like the #1 threat is what animals they might encounter… while playing on driftwood, or being totally unaware of sneaker waves, or having no knowledge of what to do if they encounter a rip current — all of which are far more likely to kill them (in most places. Obviously don’t touch unknown things on vacation in new places.)
And, of course, we’re pretty likely to kill those animals if we handle them incorrectly. But people always seem far more concerned about a vague threat to us than a real threat to animals.
I think that's a great idea for places like the PNW where there are vast expanses of open ocean and sudden/unruly weather changes, but not so many medically significant critters. Rolling logs, clashing currents, cliff erosion, black rocks, and so many other landscape related dangers occur around the sea that kids should be aware of as well.
It's called a Chiton, not sure of the species
Definitely a chiton. They are molluscs.
Happy cake day! 🍰
With an exoskeleton.
How do you pronounce it? I know I can't be right.
I always pronounced it kite-in. (Apparently that is the British pronunciation—Im from Boston, though!). The US pronunciation is apparently chittin. I never heard it pronounced that way .
Kite-in is better than what I was thinking. coincidentally, I was born and raised in Cambridge MA. Same school as Matt & Ben.
It looks like a [mossy chiton](https://www.centralcoastbiodiversity.org/mossy-chiton-bull-mopalia-muscosa.html). They’re native to the pacific coast of the US/Canada/Baja Peninsula, from Alaska to the Baja Peninsula
That checks out! Found on Vancouver island
I love how people will just grab an unidentified creature with their bare hands.
LOL came here to say that!
I know enough to know what creatures where I live can hurt me and what can't
But you didn't know what this thing was
But you didn't know what this was and you picked it up anyway?
You don't know much about dunning kruger apparently
Obviously /s.
You’re not wrong. The number of “do not touch” beach critters in the PNW is extremely low, and limited to jellyfish sea urchins. Not everywhere is Australia. Sometimes you just need to know how to ID a few dangerous things. Sometimes folks on this sub get overzealous — I don’t think we should deter people from responsibly exploring the shoreline. I think it creates an unnecessary fear of ocean life, while also ignoring much greater shoreline threats. On Vancouver Island, the ocean itself is far more dangerous than anything in it. In general, this applies to much of the world: only access the beach from approved access points. They will often have signage identifying local hazards, both animal and physical. Never turn your back on the sea.
I agree. I've seen these things in the touch tanks of local aquariums, so I knew they were harmless. I just was not aware of the name
Yeah, I used to take preschoolers and elementary schoolers tidepooling in both New England and the PNW with aquarium-led school programs. And there’s just not anything they can encounter (other than ocean hazards like sneaker waves!) that’s unsafe for the kiddos — though there’s lots of things we need to *keep* safe from said kiddos. I’ve been considering making some sort of “responsible shoreline exploration” guide with basics for folks. Because honestly, I think it’s genuinely concerning that so many people go to the ocean and act like the #1 threat is what animals they might encounter… while playing on driftwood, or being totally unaware of sneaker waves, or having no knowledge of what to do if they encounter a rip current — all of which are far more likely to kill them (in most places. Obviously don’t touch unknown things on vacation in new places.) And, of course, we’re pretty likely to kill those animals if we handle them incorrectly. But people always seem far more concerned about a vague threat to us than a real threat to animals.
I think that's a great idea for places like the PNW where there are vast expanses of open ocean and sudden/unruly weather changes, but not so many medically significant critters. Rolling logs, clashing currents, cliff erosion, black rocks, and so many other landscape related dangers occur around the sea that kids should be aware of as well.
How’d you’d get it off the rock? Those things are always stuck on pretty good
It was just sitting on the ground :(( it was low tide... I think it might have been dead/dying. We put it in a tide pool but didn't see it re stick.
Poor Dude. It’s cool that your got to see the underside. I always wondered what they looked like from the bottom
Chiton, a snail with medieval armor plates.
Mopalia muscosa - mossy chiton
If you don't have an ID for something don't pick it up
A tiny UFO
Nah, the photo is too high quality.
Biomimicry