Exploring the Fascinating World of Acorn Barnacle

selim12 February 28, 2024 0 Comments

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Acorn Barnacle are tiny crustaceans found on rocky shores. It’s that creature that hurts you when you’re walking on rocks. It’s a type of rocky crustacean related to crabs and lobsters.

Table of Contents

Acorn Barnacle Scientific Name:

There are 8 species of acorn barnacle:

Balanus glandular: common acorn barnacle^[6]
Balanus nubilus, giant acorn barnacle
Chthamalus antennatus, acorn barnacle
Megabalanus coccopoma, titan acorn barnacle
Megabalanus tintinnabulum, titan acorn barnacle
Paraconcavus pacificus, red-striped acorn barnacle
Semibalanus balanoides, northern acorn barnacle

Acorn Barnacle Distribution:

They are found attached to rocks and tiny object on all UK oceans and shores.

Description And Appearance:

This creature is con-shaped attached to object in the ocean shore.It’s length ranges from 2 to 10.2 cm.It’ body which is a juvenile larvae is contained on the shell for protection.The acrorn barnacle is grey-white in color.

Feeding:

It eats small crustaceans next to it ,plankton and detritus.Acorn barnacles are suspension feeders, using their cirri to filter plankton and other microscopic organisms from the water.

Behavior:

Once it reaches maturity, barnacle builds it’s own shape.When the water covers the barnacle,the trapdoor opens and the barnacle feather appears.When there is no tide,it shuts the door to keep it’s moisture and water.It’s glands produce the glue that makes it fast on hard surface.

Reproduction Of Acorn Barnacle:

This creature has both male and female sex organs with fertilization to next barnacle is always the case.That’s why they are social creature so they can take care of each other’s eggs with brooding happening within the shell.

Ecological Importance :

As primary consumers, acorn barnacles contribute to the transfer of energy within marine food webs. They serve as a vital food source for numerous organisms, including fish, crustaceans, and shorebirds, thus influencing the balance of coastal ecosystems.

Conservation Status Of Acorne Barnacles:

It’s diverse population with over 1400 individuals.Yet they attach to ship bottoms increasing oil consumption by 40%.They are more widely distributed these days.

Acorn Barnacle Cool Facts:

They have one of the longest penises relative to body size in the animal kingdom, allowing them to reach distant mates.
Some species of acorn barnacles can live for several decades, with individuals continually adding layers to their shells throughout their lives.
They have no gills,gas exchanges are done through the body itself.