Southern giant barnacle [Cucullella volxemii]
Description
Cucullella volxemii, the southern giant barnacle, is a species of barnacle in the family Balanidae. Like other barnacles, it is a sessile crustacean that attaches itself to hard surfaces in marine environments, such as rocks and ship hulls. It is found primarily in the Southern Ocean. The southern giant barnacle has a large conical shell and feeds on plankton and detritus by extending its feathery legs (cirri) into the water.
Taxonomy
| Phylum |
Mollusks
Mollusca
|
|---|---|
| Class |
Clams, Oysters, and Scallops
Bivalvia
|
| Order |
Ark Clams
Arcida
|
| Family |
Ponderous Arks
Cucullaeidae
|
| Genus |
Cucullella
Cucullella
|