Barnacle adults are sessile; most are suspension feeders with hard calcareous shells, but the Rhizocephala are specialized parasites of other crustaceans, with reduced bodies.

As the cirri rapidly extend and retract through the opening at the top of the barnacle, they comb the water for microscopic organisms. They quickly withdraw into their protective shells if they …

Sep 4, 2025 · A prominent feature of barnacle anatomy is the penis, which is both retractable and capable of growing up to eight times the body length (the highest penis-to-body ratio in the …

Barnacle defined and explained with descriptions. Barnacle is a small crustacean that attaches itself to marine objects such as rocks, and boats.

May 9, 2025 · Barnacles attach to a surface once and stay put for life. Most barnacles, especially the acorn and gooseneck varieties, start life as barnacle larvae drifting in the ocean before …

Dec 20, 2025 · Barnacle, any of more than 1,000 predominantly marine crustaceans of the subclass Cirripedia highly modified for sedentary life. There are about 850 free-living species …

Aug 19, 2025 · These predators graze on barnacle populations, integrating them into the broader marine food web. The hard shells of barnacles provide a protective covering, making them a …

A Barnacle consumes either animal or plant matter, making its diet omnivorous. The majority are suspension feeders, they remain permanently inside their shells, which are typically made of 6 …

May 27, 2024 · The barnacle is especially vulnerable to predators during the larval stages of its life cycle. If barnacles are kept as pets, other animals in the aquarium are likely to prey on …

The anatomy of a barnacle is quite different from other crustaceans. Most notably, they reside upside-down within their protective shells, using their modified appendages, called cirri, to …