Tom, It looks similar to a species we have in Puget Sound (Washington State,
U.S.A.)that's an echinoderm (holothurian).  It's called Psolus chitonoides,
(a sea cucumber "resembling a chiton").  The description states; "the shape
of a short cucumber sliced lengthwise, for one side of it- the side with the
tube feet-is almost perfectly flat. It clings tightly to rocks and is
essentially sedentary.  The upper surface is covered with overlapping
calcareous plates, and the mouth is situated on this surface some distance
from the anterior end.  The color is orange; it's abundant in deeper water
and its 5 cm in length." There is also another species I've never seen,
listed as Psolidium bullatum which is smaller (3 cm) and pinkish-purple. I
don't know if a similar species exists in Taiwan but it might be useful to
ask an expert or look in marine biology texts.  Our species is only found in
dredged materials or by divers, not intertidally. Bert Bartleson

-----Original Message-----
From: Conchologists List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Tom
Eichhorst
Sent: Sunday, January 23, 2005 7:01 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Mystery Marine Animal

I was recently sent an image of a marine organism and asked if I could
identify same.  The individual wrote:

"Dear Sir,
     I  found this strange animal with many dorsal scaly shell and soft
ventral body, it was collected from -200m depth of southwestern Taiwan. Can
you tell me what species it is? (seems like monoplacophoran? )
Very thanks!

Jay Pai"

I do not know the size, but it looks relatively small.  I promised this guy
I would check with some folks who might know - the old Conch-L net.  It is
posted on Avril's Man and Mollusc site at:
http://www.manandmollusc.net/Mystery_shell_pages/TomE.html

Thanks Avril and thanks to anyone who has an idea about this critter.

Tom Eichhorst

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