| Gooseneck barnacle from the Ross Sea, Antarctica. Image by Karen Osborn of specimen collected by James Barry. | |
Barnacles are more familiar members of the Cirripedia. Most species are specialized to live within a specific substrate. Some burrow into mollusk shells or coral skeletons whereas others burrow into logs or whales. There are members of Cirripedia that exist as parasites. Click here to read more about the lifestyles of the various cirripede groups.
Because many cirripedes have hard calcareous plates that protect their bodies, they are readily fossilizable. Needless to say, the Cirripedia has a good fossil record.
