Photograph by Tim Sandefur.
Pollicipes polymerus -- goose barnacle, La Jolla, California. Mr. Sandefur tells us that in the Middle Ages people thought geese hatched from them, and a type of goose is still called a barnacle goose.
3 Comments
fnxtr · 20 June 2011
Very cool. Surreal, even.
paul.paulburnett · 20 June 2011
They're much cooler when underwater, with their feathery cirri extended for feeding. See, for instance, the fifth picture at http://www2.ucsc.edu/seymourcenter/Inverts/Arthropoda/Cirripedia/Pollicipes_polymerus/Pollicipes_polymerus.html or the third picture at http://www.divebums.com/week/2006/May08-2006/index.html - but most non-divers never see this - they just see them closed up tight.
apokryltaros · 21 June 2011
I've seen these guys in Palos Verdes, too. I hear they're edible.
3 Comments
fnxtr · 20 June 2011
Very cool. Surreal, even.
paul.paulburnett · 20 June 2011
They're much cooler when underwater, with their feathery cirri extended for feeding. See, for instance, the fifth picture at http://www2.ucsc.edu/seymourcenter/Inverts/Arthropoda/Cirripedia/Pollicipes_polymerus/Pollicipes_polymerus.html or the third picture at http://www.divebums.com/week/2006/May08-2006/index.html - but most non-divers never see this - they just see them closed up tight.
apokryltaros · 21 June 2011
I've seen these guys in Palos Verdes, too. I hear they're edible.