Barnacles of Southern Australia

To the uninitiated barnacles might seem to be molluscs, like limpets which they superficially resemble and with whom some share space. This is because the chalky plates which enclose the crustacean body are vaguely limpet-shaped. Inside the “shell” however is a segmented body with six pairs of segmented legs used for filter-feeding from the water. Some odd parasitic crustaceans share a similar larval stage, called a “cyprid”, with more familiar barnacles. All use the first antennae as a for m of attachment, the barnacles attach themselves upside down on a rock with their feet in the water.

Feedback and queries should be sent to the Discovery Centre at Museum Victoria.
Please note, the Discovery Centre can help you only with questions about crustaceans from southeastern Australia. It can not advise on the care of pet hermit crabs or on crustaceans from other regions.