Giant barnacle
| Balanus nubilus | |
|---|---|
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Crustacea |
| Class: | Maxillopoda |
| Infraclass: | Cirripedia |
| Order: | Sessilia |
| Family: | Balanidae |
| Genus: | Balanus |
| Species: | B. nubilus |
| Binomial name | |
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Balanus nubilus Darwin, 1854 |
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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), and containing the largest known muscle fibres.
Balanus nubilus is frequently found growing on rocks, pier pilings and hard-shelled animals at depths of up to 90 metres (300 ft) from Alaska to La Jolla, San Diego County, California. Like other acorn barnacles, B. nubilus is a filter feeder; it, in turn, is sometimes eaten by sea otters,sea stars, crabs and the Native Americans of the Pacific Northwest. Abandoned shells of B. nubilus are used by the crab Glebocarcinus oregonensis for shelter.
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Wikipedia