barnaclea

Barnaclea is a genus of barnacles, small sessile crustaceans that attach permanently to hard substrates in marine environments. The genus includes several described species found in temperate and subtropical coastal waters as well as on artificial structures such as ship hulls and piers.

Adults of Barnaclea typically possess calcareous plates forming a protective capitulum. In some species the animal is stalked, with a fleshy peduncle that elevates the capitulum above the surface; in others the animal sits directly on the substrate.

Barnaclea are filter feeders. They extend feathery appendages called cirri to sweep plankton from the water and bring it to the mouth.

Reproduction is sexual, and most species are hermaphroditic. Fertilization usually occurs via direct contact with neighboring individuals or through the transfer of sperm across a short distance. After fertilization, eggs develop into free-swimming larvae.

Life cycle begins with free-swimming nauplius and cypris larval stages that disperse before attaching permanently and metamorphosing into juvenile barnacles.

Ecology and economic relevance: Barnaclea contribute to biofouling on ships, offshore structures, and coastal installations, influencing maintenance costs and ecosystem dynamics. They are often used as indicators of marine conditions and have a role in coastal food webs as filter feeders.