Balanus nubilus

Balanus nubilus, commonly called the giant acorn barnacle, is the world's largest barnacle, reaching a diameter of 15 cm (6 in) and a height of up to 30 cm (12 in),[3] and containing the largest known muscle fibres.[4][5]

"Giant barnacle" redirects here. For the species from Argentina, 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] [2]

Balanus nubilus is a northeast Pacific species that ranges from southern Alaska to Baja California.[6] It is frequently found growing on rocks, pier pilings and hard-shelled animals at depths of up to 90 m (300 ft).[4] Like other acorn barnacles, B. nubilus is a filter feeder; it, in turn, is sometimes eaten by sea otters,[7] sea stars, crabs[8] and the Native Americans of the Pacific Northwest.[9] Abandoned shells of B. nubilus are used by the crab Glebocarcinus oregonensis for shelter.[10]

References
  1. Darwin, Charles (1854). "Balanus nubilus". A monograph on the sub-class Cirripedia, with figures of all the species. 2. London: Ray Society. pp. 253–254.
  2. "Balanus nubilus Darwin, 1854". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved June 14, 2011.
  3. Richard, Martin (1997). "View from on top: mine's bigger than yours!". WaveLength Magazine. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  4. "Balanus nubilus". The Race Rocks taxonomy. Race Rocks Ecological Reserve / Marine Protected Area. December 2002. Archived from the original on August 16, 2010. Retrieved December 31, 2009.
  5. 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. S2CID 11926059.
  6. Cowles, D. (2006). "Balanus nubilus Darwin, 1854". Walla Walla University. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  7. James M. Watanabe (October 10, 2009). "Phylum Arthropoda, Subph. Crustacea: Subtidal Barnacles, Crabs, Shrimp, & Kin". SeaNet: Common Marine Organisms of Monterey Bay, California. Archived from the original on November 2, 2017. Retrieved December 31, 2009.
  8. David W. Jamison. "Giant acorn barnacle Balanus nubilus". Tour Puget Sound habitats and marine life. Archived from the original on June 11, 2010. Retrieved December 31, 2009.
  9. "Facts about Balanus nubilus: edibility, as discussed in cirripede (crustacean): Importance to humans". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved December 31, 2009.
  10. "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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