Goose Barnacle

Name: Goose Barnacle

Scientific name: Lepas anatifera

Category: Marine

Nature Stars: 80

What are nature stars?

About: Goose Barnacles live attached to floating objects out at sea. They have a long fleshy 'neck' with the hard shells at the end protecting the main body of the animal. This hard 'head' measures about 5cm long. They filter feed on plankton and detritus.

How to identify: Unmistakeable. A similar species, Lepas fascicularis, floats attached to a spongey 'buoy' that it makes itself.

Where: Often washed up on western shores, especially after storms.

Natural Superpowers

• Predator: 10
• Agility: 10
• Rarity: 70
• Cute factor: 50
• Traveller: 20

Fantastic fact: It was once thought that Barnacle Geese hatched from Goose Barnacles, as the two turned up on the west coast of Scotland at the same time of year.

Photograph credit: Photo credit tbc