Thecostraca

Guides

• Lepadidae

  Goose Barnacles

  A family of pedunculate (stalked) barnacles established by Charles Darwin in 1852, commonly known as goose barnacles. Comprises approximately five genera and over 20 described species. Members are exclusively marine, with worldwide distribution in warm temperate and tropical seas. The family includes the well-known genus Lepas (goose barnacles) and Conchoderma (whale barnacles).

  Darwin-1852pedunculate-barnaclesmarine-biofoulingpelagicepibiontandrodioecydwarf-malescryptic-speciationshipping-vectorraftingphoresyjellyfish-symbiontwhale-barnaclesgoose-barnacleswarm-temperatetropicalcosmopolitan-distributionfilter-feederCirripediaScalpellomorphaThecostraca

• Lepadiformes

  stalked barnacles, goose barnacles

  Lepadiformes is an order of stalked barnacles within the class Maxillopoda. Members possess a fleshy peduncle that attaches the capitulum (shell) to substrates, distinguishing them from sessile acorn barnacles. The order includes approximately nine extant families, with Lepadidae being the most species-rich. Many species are epibiotic, attaching to mobile marine hosts including crustaceans, elasmobranchs, and marine debris.

  crustaceamaxillopodathecostracabarnaclesstalked-barnaclesepibiontsmarinefilter-feederspelagiccommensalism