Species profile
California Barnacle
Megabalanus californicus
At a glance
California Barnacle (Megabalanus californicus) is a barnacle present across the CatchRules coverage area but without species-specific bag, size, or season rules tracked in our regulatory dataset.
Confirmed by 589 research-grade iNaturalist observations, concentrated in California.
Notable details
- It is one of the largest acorn barnacle species on the Pacific coast of North America.
- Barnacles are crustaceans — more closely related to crabs and shrimp than to mussels.
- It feeds by extending feathery legs called cirri to sweep plankton from passing water.
- Adults are permanently cemented to hard substrates such as rock, pilings, and boat hulls.
Where California Barnacle are seen
Background
Megabalanus californicus, the California barnacle, is a species of large barnacle in the family Balanidae. It is native to rocky coasts in the Eastern Pacific Ocean from North California to the Gulf of California.
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's California Barnacle article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other barnacles on CatchRules
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.