Barnacle
infraclass of crustaceans / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A barnacle is a cirripede, a kind of crustacean. It is covered with hard plates of calcium carbonate, and lives stuck to hard surfaces.
Quick Facts Barnacles, Scientific classification ...
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Barnacles under water, showing the 'feet' in action | |
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Infraclass: | Cirripedia |
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It does not look like a crustacean, and for many centuries it was thought to be a mollusc. In the 1830s, J.V. Thompson found their larvae, and followed their development through to their adult form. They have a nauplius larva, typical of crustaeans.[1][2] Later Charles Darwin, who spent eight years working on barnacles, found that Thompson had been right.[3]
Barnacles grow on hard surfaces like piers, boats, rocks, and on other animals such as turtles and whales. Barnacles are a different group from crabs and shrimps. They are considered a nuisance to the shipping industry and private boat owners.