Herbivore found on crustose and erect coralline algae, its major food and the source of its pigment. 15 mm long, 10 m deep. Its scraping organ, the radula, contains magnetite, hard enough to scrape the corallines. The chitons are broadcast spawners with external fertilization.
This Tonicella lineata was under a rock, seen in early morning light. Note the variation in plate color compared to above picture. This would conform to the classic Tonicella lineata (see note above) Photographed at San Simeon, CA by Dave Cowles. About 3-4 cm long.