Species profile
Gooseneck Barnacle
Pollicipes polymerus
At a glance
Gooseneck Barnacle (Pollicipes polymerus) 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 15,724 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with California, British Columbia, and Oregon the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- They grip wave-swept rocks using a tough, flexible stalk called a peduncle.
- Feathery legs called cirri sweep the water to catch plankton for food.
- A related European species, called percebes, is a prized delicacy in Spain and Portugal.
- They thrive in the most violently wave-battered zones of Pacific rocky shores.
- Like all barnacles, they are crustaceans — more closely related to crabs than to clams.
Where Gooseneck Barnacle are seen
Background
Pollicipes polymerus, commonly known as the gooseneck barnacle or leaf barnacle, is a species of stalked barnacle. It is found, often in great numbers, on rocky shores on the Pacific coasts of North America.
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Gooseneck 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.