Inventory of chiton species (Polyplacophora) from the rocky intertidal of the Northern Gulf of California, with an illustrated taxonomic key Author Reyes-Gómez, Adriana Doctorado en Biosistemática y Manejo de Recursos Naturales y Agrícolas. Author Vargas-Ponce, Ofelia Departamento de Botánica y Zoología. Author Galván-Villa, Cristian Departamento de Ecología Aplicada, Centro Universitario de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad de Guadalajara, Camino Ing. Ramón Padilla Sánchez 2100, Zapopan, Jalisco, 45200, México. Author Salgado-Barragán, José Laboratorio de Invertebrados Bentónicos, Unidad Académica Mazatlán, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México. Author Esqueda-González, Ma. Del Carmen Departamento de Ecología Aplicada, Centro Universitario de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad de Guadalajara, Camino Ing. Ramón Padilla Sánchez 2100, Zapopan, Jalisco, 45200, México. Author Ríos-Jara, Eduardo Departamento de Ecología Aplicada, Centro Universitario de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad de Guadalajara, Camino Ing. Ramón Padilla Sánchez 2100, Zapopan, Jalisco, 45200, México. text Zootaxa 2023 2023-05-26 5296 2 147 178 http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5296.2.2 journal article 10.11646/zootaxa.5296.2.2 1175-5326 7973065 624273A6-3028-42C2-ABE2-A18BBF828156 Lepidozona subtilis Berry, 1956 ( Figures 2H , 7A–F ) Lepidozona subtilis Berry, 1956: 71–74 . Chresonymy and synonymy in Kaas & Van Belle (1987) . Type material. Holotype , SBMNH 34432 ex. “Berry collection 15132”. Type locality. Puerto Peñasco , Sonora , México ( Kaas & Van Belle 1987 ). Material examined. 284 specimens , BL 6.1–19.7 mm . Habitat. On semi–humid large and medium–sized rocks buried in sand with brown and red crusty algae patches exposed during low tide. At Playa Cementerio and Playa Gringa in the Bahía de los Ángeles, Baja California (BC) it was found on a substrate with abundant anemones and ascidians, asteroids, ophiuroids, and holothuroids. Remarks. This species has a nodular radial sculpture ( Figs. 7A–C ) and lateral areas with 4–6 fine grooves ( Fig. 7B ). Aesthetes with 6–9 microaesthetes ( Fig. 7D ). Radula with bicuspid major lateral and bilobate minor lateral tooth ( Figs. 7E–F ). Ferreira (1974) proposed that L . subtilis is distributed from 26°N in the Gulf of California up to Puerto Peñasco including Puerto Lobos, Bahía San Pedro , Guaymas, San Felipe, Puertecitos, Bahía San Luis Gonzaga, Bahía de los Ángeles, and Bahía San Francisquito. Most of this distribution accounts were based on field observations, specimens from the collection of the California Academy of Sciences, and private collections (Allyn G. Smith and George Hanselman). We recorded this species from Bahía Kino to Bahía de los Ángeles, BC which coincides with the distribution reported by Ferreira (1974) . This species was the most numerous in our samples, representing 40% of the total number of specimens, and was present at almost all sampling sites, except Bahía San Carlos, Sonora . The studied specimens have varied coloration patterns of red, orange, yellow, olive green, dark green, and beige with combinations of these colors in spots or lines as was also reported by Ferreira (1974) . We also observed a variable number of ribs in the adult individuals and no apparent relationship between rib number and body length. These variations were also pointed out by Ferreira (1974) , who found that L. subtilis differs from its congeners by the absence of a protuberance (horn) on the apical edge of the scales.