Offshore Windfarms

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Education > Life around the turbines > Invertebrates > Crustaceans > The Acorn barnacle Balanus crenatus

The Acorn barnacle Balanus crenatus

Barnacles live permanently attached rocks and other hard surfaces and wave their feathery ‘legs’ in the water to catch food!  This species has six shell plates with a trap door in the centre which closes when out of the water, and opens when underwater so that the animal can feed.  This acorn barnacle is common in the UK and often lives on artificial structures.