Ahoy, Barnacle Bob!

Committed Crustacean: Barnacles are living organisms that attach themselves to rocks, boats, and even whales. They secrete one of the strongest known natural glues, and once they attach to an object, they never move again. –oceanconservancy.org

You read it first in The Factory in Guide magazine.

The ocean is a very special place! One of the more interesting lifeforms in the ocean is called the barnacle. You may have seen barnacles on docks, boats or even whales. They can also be glued to turtles, crabs and other sea creatures as well. They are considered crustaceans.

Crustaceans are a group of animals that include crabs and shrimp; small creatures with a shell that live in the sea. Barnacles are covered with hard plates made of calcium carbonate (what sea shells are made of), which is like a natural shell.

There are more than 1,000 known species of barnacles that live in shallow and tidal waters around the world. Many species of barnacles are small, but some of them can grow as large as 7cm (almost 3 inches).

Cyprid have a mission to find a good surface to settle and cement itself on. It attaches itself to its new spot by its antennas. Within 12 hours of attachment, a mature barnacle with a shell is produced.

Barnacles have two distinct larval stages, the nauplius and the cyprid. The first larval stage of barnacles is called the nauplius, which spends its time floating wherever the wind, waves, currents, and tides may take it while eating and molting.

There are extensions on their head that help with their movement and they usually have one eye. This lasts for about two weeks until the second stage is reached.

The second larval stage of barnacles is called the cyprid. In this stage, the nauplius metamorphosizes into a non-feeding organism which swims more strongly than nauplius.

Barnacles are sessile, which means once they find that one place, they never move again. This is when they secrete a natural, super-powerful glue (like cement) that keeps them held on to their new home. Their ideal home choice would be one where the water often flows or covers them and brings them all sorts of food through the waves and tides. 

Considered omnivores, its (their) diet is based on plankton and algae. Barnacles feed themselves using the 6 pairs of feather-like feet called “cirri”. Cirri are not only used for feeding, but also used by barnacles to breathe.

Depending on the species, they can live from 10 - 20 years. Even after they die, the “shell” will continue to stay stuck. Barnacles can be pink, yellow, orange, green, brown, black, white, cream, or covered with stripes. The color of the body matches with the colors of the habitat and provides camouflage helping to keep them safe.

Barnacles are amazing in all the phases of their lives. Let's be like a barnacle and never let go of Jesus! Let's keep His promises from the Bible always in our hearts!

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2 NKJV

—Carol Lyons, Assistant
Discovery Mountain

Scripture taken from the New King James Version, Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.