Description: A distinctive barnacle due to the asymmetric appearance of the outer shell, which is flattened and made up of 4 unequal plates and can be up to 5 mm in diameter. It is white to grey-brown in colour. Each plate has radiating crests that interlock at the serrated sutures where the plates meet. The opercular aperture is single d-shaped plate with a hinge on one side. There is no tergo-scutal flap on this species, but the interior is red in colour which can sometimes be seen through the slit opening.

Habitat: Found on a range of hard substrate from lower shore to depths of 500 m. Seems to prefer undersides of boulders, crevices or algal holdfasts. Sometimes found on shells.

Distribution: Found all around Britain and Ireland.

Similar Species: Unlikely to be confused with any other species due to its distinctive appearance.

Key Identification Features:

• Depressed, flattened barnacle with an asymmetric appearance.
• Outer shell has four unequal plates with radiating crests that interlock at the sutures where plates meet.
• Interior is red in colour which can sometimes be seen through the slit opening.

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

iNaturalist: Verruca stroemia at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

GBIF data for Verruca stroemia

WoRMS: Verruca stroemia at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Verruca stroemia (O.F. Müller, 1776). AphiaID: 106257.

Classification: Biota; Animalia; Arthropoda; Crustacea; Multicrustacea; Thecostraca; Cirripedia; Thoracica; Thoracicalcarea; Verrucomorpha; Verrucidae; Verruca