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Bay Barnacle, Little Ivory Barnacle
Barnacle
Bay Barnacle, Little Ivory Barnacle
Amphibalanus improvisus (Darwin, 1854)
WoRMS AphialID
421139
Sample IDs
HMSC174-00429 https://bench.boldsystems.org/index.php/MAS_DataRetrieval_OpenSpecimen?selectedrecordid=ATCAR054-23
Collected
Minas Basin NS, ponar grab collection of pebbles, 12 m depth.
Distinguishing Features
• Shell: 6 smooth plates, apices like spear heads and often eroded. The radii is narrow and does not extend to parieties of adjacent shell plates.
• Base: calcareous with radial pattern and smooth margin.
• Scutum: the adductor ridge is well developed, no longitudinal striae, growth lines are present and a brown epidermis.
• Tergum: jutting, spur narrow and less than a quarter width of the basal margin.
• Size: to 20 mm, usually less than 10 mm.
• Profile: conical tube.
Habitat
Grows on various hard substrates such as rocks, oysters and manmade structures. Typically found in brackish estuarine habitats, 0-90 m depth.
Geographic Range
Native to the east coasts of North and South America and introduced to the west coast of North and South America, the Sea of Japan, Europe and the Mediterranean Sea.
Fun Fact
Amphibalanus improvisus has a widespread introduced range and is considered one of the most successful aquatic invasive species worldwide. It can tolerate a broad range of environmental conditions. The spread of this species was likely due to ships.
Barcode Distribution
BIN matching Europe, California and Maryland.
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