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Story: Crabs, rock lobsters and other crustaceans

Goose barnacles

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Goose barnacles

These goose barnacles are feeding. Each animal extends its finely bristled legs from the gaping shell and sweeps them in the current. Fine particles of food and plankton become trapped on the bristles and are then drawn into the barnacle’s mouth.

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Ryan Photographic

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How to cite this page

Niel Bruce and Alison MacDiarmid, Crabs, rock lobsters and other crustaceans – Barnacles and copepods, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/8247/goose-barnacles (accessed 20 June 2026).

Story by Niel Bruce and Alison MacDiarmid, published 2 March 2009.