Acorn+Barnacles

Barnacles are hard organisms that encrust themselves onto other objects such as rocks, pillars, piers, ships, etc., however they have to compete with Limpets and Mussels who also like these habitats. There are many different kinds of Barnacles including (common names): Giant Barnacle, Acorn Barnacle, Thatched Barnacle, Goose Barnacle, and Pelagic Goose Barnacle. The Acorn Barnacles biological name is **//Balanus glandula //** and it is found from the Aleutian Islands all the way down to Mexico. The Acorn Barnacle is the most common barnacle found and is 3/4 inches high and wide. It is generally white with a volcano-shaped profile, the six inner plates (with jet black lining) close tightly to seal in the barnacle and keep it protected. These barnacles are very common in intertidal areas and are eaten by the barnacle nudibranch. They are distinctly related to crabs and lobsters. Unlike Goose Barnacles that attach themselves using their stalk, the Acorn Barnacle is sessile, which means the shells grow directly onto its habitat. These creatures are suspension feeders meaning they stay in their calcite shells, and they have feathery appendages that move very rhythmically to attract their prey, such as plankton, and draw them into their opening for consumption. Before developing into matured barnacles, they go through two stages nauplius and cyprid. The nauplius stage consists of a one eyed larva with a head but no thorax or abdomen. Barnacles in the cyprid stage spend the whole stage searching for a spot to live. Once it has found the perfect home it attaches itself head-first using its antennules and secreted substance. They like to live in places they relate to so they can blend in and stay comfortable; this stage can last from days to weeks. Adult barnacles develop six plates to protect their body and for the rest of their lives they are cemented down using their feathery "legs" to capture plankton. Barnacles are not good for cuddling but they are really interesting creatures and if given the chance you should definitely get an up close picture to capture their true beauty.



For more information check out this link: [|Barnacles: wikipedia.org] Written by: Aundrea