Description: This goose barnacle has a distinctive ‘blunt-looking’ capitulum made up of 13 overlapping white plates, of which 5 (distal) are noticeably larger than the others which are variable in size. The peduncle (stalk) is dark coloured and highly contractile. It is much shorter than the capitulum. There are many small plates armouring the surface of the peduncle.

Habitat: This goose barnacle is found exclusively in the intertidal, in deep crevices. Restricted to lower shore, and seems to prefer very exposed sites.

Distribution: Very rare. So far only recorded 6 times in Britain and Ireland, mostly in Cornwall. There is one record on the north coast of Ireland that has been flagged for review, seems highly unlikely.

Similar Species: Unlikely to be confused with any other species. Very distinctive capitulum.

Key Identification Features:

• Blunt looking capitulum with 13 plates, 5 of which are noticeably larger.
• Dark coloured, highly contractile peduncle.
• Intertidal habitat.

Distribution Map from NBN: Pollicipes pollicipes at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Pollicipes pollicipes at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

GBIF data for Pollicipes pollicipes

WoRMS: Pollicipes pollicipes at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Pollicipes pollicipes (Gmelin, 1791 [in Gmelin, 1788-1792]). AphiaID: 106177.

Classification: Biota; Animalia; Arthropoda; Crustacea; Multicrustacea; Thecostraca; Cirripedia; Thoracica; Thoracicalcarea; Pollicipedomorpha; Pollicipedidae; Pollicipes