Its morphology is different from usual chitons as it has a fifth valve, which is split into halves. This species is common within its range in the tropical Western Atlantic, but it is often not noticed, because its color and texture are similar to the rocks on which it lives. With not many predators the West Indian fuzzy chiton can live up to 40 years. In countries that used to be part of the British West Indies, these and other common intertidal chitons are known as “curb”; the foot of the animal is eaten by people and is also used as bait for fishing.
This specific type of chiton displays hundreds of shell eyes (< 100 µm) embedded in their dorsal shell. These eyes provide special vision, containing a retina, layer of screening pigment and a lens. This chiton occurs from southern Florida to Mexico, south to Panama, and in the West Indies. They orient themselves, maintaining a constant zonal level, according to the exposure to wave action along the coastal shore line. This organization is due to their foraging behavior, which is limited to the nocturnal low tides.