This small chiton, found beneath rocks in the intertidal zone, is highly camouflaged and a drab brown colour. It is often covered with epiphytes, including small tubeworms, and its heavy ribbing, especially in the lateral areas of the valves, help it to blend in with the surrounding rock. It has a wide orange girdle with very fine scales and has a "furry" appearance. This species can be distinguished by the very similar Callistochiton mawlei by its slightly finer lateral ribbing, and its dorsal area has a crosshatch sculpture instead of C. mawlei's linear sculpturing.
