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Semibalanus balanoides

(Linnaeus, 1758)


Patrik Good This is hopefully an easy one because I see it floating in the water all the time. But I could never find an ID. Also photographed 22/5/2013 before dawn. Size about 3 to 4 cm (1 to 1.5 inches). Thanks for an id(ea).

Blogie Robillo Krill?

Arne Kuilman It's a common barnacle, Semibalanus balanoides. I've seen this behavior quite often. They can release themselves from the sediment to search for a new (less competition?) place to anchor themselves on the substrate.

Patrik Good Thank you both for solving this one with a surprise. It makes sense now actually. Who would have thought that the foe of one of my dive suits could ever show in such an innocent fairy-like form. Will have to read up on barnacles now. I have an unconfirmed theory based on an observation where a branch (Siraius nucleola) attacked the sedimentary form of this guy and was actually deterred by the wild flapping of the filter arms.

Taxonomy
Animalia (Kingdom)
  Arthropoda (Phylum)
    Crustacea (Subphylum)
      Maxillopoda (Class)
        Thecostraca (Subclass)
          Cirripedia (Infraclass)
            Thoracica (Superorder)
              Sessilia (Order)
                Balanomorpha (Suborder)
                  Balanoidea (Superfamily)
                    Archaeobalanidae (Family)
                      Semibalaninae (Subfamily)
                        Semibalanus (Genus)
                          Semibalanus balanoides (Species)
Associated Species