Balanus nubilus

"Giant barnacle" redirects here. For the species from Chile and Peru, see Austromegabalanus psittacus.
Balanus nubilus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Crustacea
Class: Maxillopoda
Infraclass: Cirripedia
Order: Sessilia
Family: Balanidae
Genus: Balanus
Species: B. nubilus
Binomial name
Balanus nubilus
Darwin, 1854 [1]

Balanus nubilus, commonly called the giant acorn barnacle, is the world's largest barnacle, reaching a diameter of 15 centimetres (5.9 in) and a height of up to 30 centimetres (12 in),[2] and containing the largest known muscle fibres.[3][4]

Balanus nubilus is frequently found growing on rocks, pier pilings and hard-shelled animals at depths of up to 90 metres (300 ft)[3] from Alaska to La Jolla, San Diego County, California.[5] Like other acorn barnacles, B. nubilus is a filter feeder; it, in turn, is sometimes eaten by sea otters,[6] sea stars, crabs[7] and the Native Americans of the Pacific Northwest.[8] Abandoned shells of B. nubilus are used by the crab Glebocarcinus oregonensis for shelter.[9]

References

  1. ↑ "Balanus nubilus Darwin, 1854". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved June 14, 2011.
  2. ↑ Richard Martin (1997). "View from on top: mine's bigger than yours!". WaveLength Magazine.
  3. 1 2 "Balanus nubilus". The Race Rocks taxonomy. Race Rocks Ecological Reserve / Marine Protected Area. December 2002. Retrieved December 31, 2009.
  4. ↑ Graham Hoyle & Thomas Smyth Jr. (1963). "Giant muscle fibers in a barnacle, Balanus nubilus Darwin". Science 139 (3549): 49–50. doi:10.1126/science.139.3549.49. PMID 17752025.
  5. ↑ Robert H. Morris, Donald Putnam Abbott & Eugene Clinton Haderlie (1980). Intertidal invertebrates of California. Stanford University Press. p. 690. ISBN 978-0-8047-1045-9.
  6. ↑ James M. Watanabe (October 10, 2009). "Phylum Arthropoda, Subph. Crustacea: Subtidal Barnacles, Crabs, Shrimp, & Kin". SeaNet: Common Marine Organisms of Monterey Bay, California.
  7. ↑ David W. Jamison. "Giant acorn barnacle Balanus nubilus". Tour Puget Sound habitats and marine life. Retrieved December 31, 2009.
  8. ↑ "Facts about Balanus nubilus: edibility, as discussed in cirripede (crustacean): Importance to humans:". Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved December 31, 2009.
  9. ↑ "Marine Fossils and their Living Relatives". Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture. Archived from the original on 11 February 2010. Retrieved December 31, 2009.


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