Suspension-feeder
Guides
Amphibalanus amphitrite
striped barnacle, purple acorn barnacle, Amphitrite's rock barnacle
Amphibalanus amphitrite is a medium-sized acorn barnacle with distinctive purple or brown vertical stripes. It is a globally distributed marine species native to warm and temperate waters, now recognized as a significant biofouling organism. The species has become a model organism for larval settlement research due to its invasive potential, worldwide distribution, and ease of laboratory culture. Its genome has been sequenced, and extensive neurobiological studies have examined the settlement behavior of its cyprid larvae.
Cheumatopsyche ela
Cheumatopsyche ela is a species of net-spinning caddisfly in the family Hydropsychidae, first described by Denning in 1942. The species occurs in North America and is part of a genus known for constructing silk capture nets in flowing water habitats. Larvae exhibit density-dependent dispersion patterns in laboratory settings, with aggressive behavior and cannibalism observed at high population densities. As with other hydropsychids, adults are short-lived and primarily focused on reproduction.
Chthamalidae
Chthamalid Barnacles
Chthamalidae is a family of small, intertidal barnacles in the superfamily Chthamaloidea. The family includes at least 56 recognized species across 14 genera. Members are distinguished by a primary shell wall of eight, six, or four plates without imbricating whorls, and a membranous or rarely calcareous basis. They occupy the highest intertidal zones, often in wave-washed habitats where other barnacle families cannot survive. Molecular studies have revealed extensive cryptic diversity, with many species separable only by DNA analysis.
Emerita analoga
Pacific sand crab, Pacific mole crab, coldwater mole crab
Emerita analoga is a small sand-burrowing decapod crustacean inhabiting exposed sandy beaches along temperate Pacific coasts of North and South America. The species exhibits strong sexual dimorphism, with females nearly twice the size of males. It is a suspension feeder that captures plankton using specialized antennae extended into retreating waves. The species has been widely studied as an indicator organism for coastal pollution and harmful algal blooms.
Lepas
Goose Barnacles
Lepas is a genus of goose barnacles in the family Lepadidae, comprising pelagic crustaceans that attach to floating substrates using a flexible stalk. The genus includes at least eight described species, with Lepas anatifera being among the most widely distributed and studied. Members of this genus are characterized by their stalked morphology and calcareous shell plates, representing a distinctive lineage within the barnacle group.