Balinus Nubilus

Walking in a street with trees, you step on something. It’s an acorn and the crushed bits have gotten into all the grooves of your shoe. Taking a minute to brush your shoe off, your mind starts to wander and ponder on the most meaningful question of life, “are there other acorns out there?” Certainly, there must be other acorns because there are many types of trees and not all trees produce the same shaped acorns or produce acorns for that matter. But you really wonder… are there other acorns out there?

Well look no further, the giant acorn barnacles are here! Giant acorn barnacles, balinus nubilus, are the new acorns of the future! Sure normal acorns can grow trees but giant acorn barnacles’ claim to fame is that their max growth can reach 15 cm in diameter and 30 cm in height, roughly the size of a softball. That size is the largest of any known barnacle species! Have you ever seen a softball-sized normal acorn? I think not! Throughout the semester, I will be following and learning new things about these creatures but let’s get started on getting to know them better.

Giant acorn barnacles are a species of crustaceans in class Maxillopoda, subclass Cirripedia, which includes many other types of barnacles. Barnacles start off their life the same as many other crustaceans where they are free swimmers and later reside on a single spot, such as rocks, piers, or even hard-shelled animals. After determining that special spot, giant acorn barnacles create a limestone shell of calcium carbonate. They possess cement glands that cause the shells to be impossible to remove even after death. This particular species of barnacles live along the coast from Southern Alaska all the way to California. Following these species throughout the semester should prove more exciting than following some simple acorns.

citations:

Bailey, Regina. Acorn Barnacle Facts. Thoughtco. Retrieved February 1, 2020 from https://www.thoughtco.com/acorn-barnacles-4772301

Richard, Martin (1997). “View from on top: mine’s bigger than yours!”. WaveLength Magazine. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved February 2, 2020.

~ by knguyen99 on February 1, 2020 .