Lepas australis

Systematics: Cirripedia Family Lepadidae

Distinguishing Characters:
This goose barnacle has broad shiny white plates, the lower one more or less triangular (in other species of Lepas this plate is longer or rounder). The stalk is shorter than the main body, the whole animal never more than 65 mm long.

Habitat and Distribution:
Most goose barnacles attach in dense populations to floating oceanic wood. This species does too but rarely it has been seen on living penguins. This species lives in the Southern Ocean and appears washed up along the southern coast of Australia.

Feedback and queries should be sent to the Discovery Centre at Museum Victoria.
Please note, the Discovery Centre can help you only with questions about crustaceans from southeastern Australia. It can not advise on the care of pet hermit crabs or on crustaceans from other regions.