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Megabalanus Antillensis
''Megabalanus'' is a genus of barnacles in the Family (biology), family Balanidae. Members of the genus grow to in length and inhabit the lower intertidal zone. Morphology ''Megabalanus'' is an acorn barnacle, a sessile crustacean that secretes a calcium carbonate shell consisting of five plates. It reaches up to in height . Ecology Like other barnacles, they are suspension feeders, grabbing particulate matter from the water column overhead. ''M. tintinnabulum'' has a worldwide distribution and is commonly found on wave-beaten shores, in the lower intertidal zone. They tend to grow in clusters of around 12 individuals. Other species are more select, such as ''M. californicus'' of tidal habitats in California and the greater North American Pacific Coast. While many barnacles deal with competition for space by organisms such as limpets and mussels by growing many organisms close together in colonies, ''Megabalanus'' responds by rapidly growing to a very large size. Their la ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Barnacle
Barnacles are arthropods of the subclass (taxonomy), subclass Cirripedia in the subphylum Crustacean, Crustacea. They are related to crabs and lobsters, with similar Nauplius (larva), nauplius larvae. Barnacles are exclusively marine invertebrates; many species live in shallow and tidal waters. Some 2,100 species have been described. Barnacle adults are Sessility (motility), sessile; most are Filter feeder, suspension feeders with hard calcareous shells, but the Rhizocephala are parasitic castration, specialized parasites of other crustaceans, with reduced bodies. Barnacles have existed since at least the mid-Carboniferous, some 325 million years ago. In folklore, barnacle geese were once held to emerge fully formed from goose barnacles. Both goose barnacles and the Austromegabalanus psittacus, Chilean giant barnacle are fished and eaten. Barnacles are economically significant as biofouling on ships, where they cause hydrodynamic Drag (physics), drag, reducing efficiency. Ety ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
