Barnacle
ExploreInvertebrate
Barnacle
Balanus balanoides
Barnacles are small sea creatures that attach themselves to rocks, boats, and even whales! They have hard shells and filter food from the water using feathery legs.
Habitat: Coastal areas
Appearance
The Barnacle has a white or gray cone-shaped shell made of overlapping plates. It permanently attaches to surfaces, often appearing like small volcanic bumps. Its feathery legs can be seen filtering water when submerged.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassCirripediaOrderSessiliaFamilyBalanidaeGenusBalanus
Category
InvertebrateRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Barnacles can actually survive out of water by sealing themselves inside their shell.
Did you know barnacles are cousins to crabs and lobsters? Wow!
Some barnacles even grow right on the skin of giant whales!
They attach to a spot head-first, then build their strong shell around themselves!
Special abilities
Ability
Super Glue Feet
Barnacle can stick permanently to surfaces using a powerful biological cement that helps them withstand strong waves.
Ability
Feathery Food Traps
Barnacle has feathery legs called cirri that help them filter tiny food particles from the water current.
Ability
Protective House Builders
Barnacle has a protective shell of hard plates that helps them defend against predators and harsh environments.
Measurements & details
- Average Size
- 3 cm
- Max Lifespan
- 10 years
Diet & Feeding
Barnacles are filter-feeders, catching tiny plankton and food bits from the water!
Primary Foods
- phytoplankton
- zooplankton
- detritus
- microscopic larvae
Foraging Method
- Filter Feeding
Ecological connections
eats
Dogwhelk
Nucella lapillus
drills into barnacle shells for food.
eats
Ochre Sea Star
Pisaster ochraceus
sea stars pry open and consume barnacles.
symbiotic with
Humpback Whale
Megaptera novaeangliae
some barnacles attach to whales for a ride.
Traits
Wildlife
Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats.
Nonvascular
This trait characterizes plants lacking specialized vascular tissues (xylem and phloem) for transporting water and nutrients.
Solitary
Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
Spore Producing
Spore-producing organisms reproduce by releasing small, often single-celled, reproductive units called spores.
Filter Feeder
Filter feeders obtain nutrients by straining suspended food particles and small organisms from water.
Ancient Lineage
This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years.
Coastal
Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater.
Marine
Marine habitats encompass all saltwater environments of the Earth's oceans, supporting an immense diversity of aquatic life.
Also known as
Acorn BarnacleGoose Barnacle
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Avoid touching barnacles in the wild to protect their delicate habitats.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big is Barnacle?
3 cm
How long does Barnacle live?
10 years
What does Barnacle eat?
Barnacles are filter-feeders, catching tiny plankton and food bits from the water!
Where is Barnacle usually found?
Coastal areas
How does Barnacle hunt?
Filter Feeding
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