Miniature Barnacle [Nanocopia minuta]
Description
Nanocopia minuta, commonly known as the Miniature Barnacle, is a tiny, free-living barnacle that can be found in marine environments worldwide. It is known for its small size, typically measuring less than 1 millimeter in diameter. Despite its small size, it has a robust, white, volcano-shaped shell that protects it from predators and harsh environmental conditions. It feeds by extending its feathery appendages (cirri) into the water to catch tiny particles of food. It is a hermaphrodite, meaning each individual has both male and female reproductive organs.
Taxonomy
| Phylum |
Arthropods
Arthropoda
|
|---|---|
| Class |
Crustaceans
Malacostraca
|
| Order |
Tanaids
Tanaidacea
|
| Family |
Leptocheliid Tanaids
Leptocheliidae
|
| Genus |
Nanocopia
Nanocopia
|