Paralepas minuta

Paralepas minuta is a species of goose barnacle in the family Heteralepadidae.[1]

Paralepas minuta
Several P. minuta attached to the spine of a sea urchin
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Phylum:
Subphylum:
Class:
Infraclass:
Order:
Lepadiformes
Family:
Genus:
Species:
P. minuta
Binomial name
Paralepas minuta
Philippi, 1836
Synonyms
  • Alepas minuta Philippi, 1836
  • Heteralepas minuta (Philippi, 1836)

Description

P. minuta is a small stalked barnacle, its body reaching lengths of no more than 5 mm and widths of about 3.8 mm. The body is roughly globular and does not bear valves; it is slightly wrinkled and yellow in colour. The stalk (peduncle) is very short (about 1 mm) and heavily contracted. The base is usually divided into two finger-like projections that grip its anchoring substrate. It has repeatedly been found attached to the spines of deep-water sea urchins.[2]

Distribution

The species has a wide distribution and occurs in the Mediterranean and off West and South Africa, Japan, the Philippines, and Australia, at depths of 110–414 m.[2]

References

  1. Southward, A. (2004). "Paralepas minuta (Philippi, 1836)". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
  2. Biccard, Aiden; Griffiths, Charles L. (2016). "Additions to the barnacle (Crustacea: Cirripedia) fauna of South Africa". African Zoology. 51 (2): 99–116.
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