The shell of this large chiton is dark green to brown, humped and oval shaped, with eight rough valves.

This species of Plaxiphora chiton was discovered by Dr. Charles Boyden on wave-exposed rocky shores of New Zealand.

[4] This species of low-shore chitons is native to south-western Australia, including Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania.

This leads to the estimate of chiton growth being around ~5 mm every year[5] Recruits of Plaxiphora albida range from 1-2 inches in width.

While the major cause of mortality is unknown, the best conclusion would be a mixture of predation of other organisms such as starfish and seabirds, desiccation, and tidal action[5] The gonodosomatic index of Plaxiphora albida showed fluctuations throughout the year.

[5] As rocky intertidal organisms, Chitons directly face threats caused by ecological shifts: temperature, tidal action, and pH.

[6] Although Chitons face variety of threats from the marine ecosystem, their ability to be abundant for the last 500 million years, suggest that their resistance to ecological pressure is robust.

Scientists have accredited the agile movements of Chitons up and down the rocky niche to have partaken in their longing survival.