Notobalanus flosculus


Notobalanus flosculus is a species of sessile barnacle found off southwestern South America.

Classification

Notobalanus flosculus was first scientifically described as Balanus flosculus by Charles Darwin in 1854.

Distribution

Notobalanus flosculus is found around Chilé and Peru and N. flosculus var. sordidus is known from the Tierra del Fuego archipelago. Fossils of this barnacle dating to the Miocene epoch have been found in the Kerguelen Islands.

Description

Notobalanus flosculus is a small barnacle with a "purple or dirty white" shell that lives in the littoral zone on detritus such as wood, rocks, and shells.