stalked barnacle, probably Weltnerium weltneri

Weltnerium weltneri has been collected from Antarctica and the South Orkney Islands from 298 to 403 meters depth [1]. This specimen was collected from Cinder Cones at about 18 meters depth [4]. The capitular plates of W. weltneri are separated by narrow, translucent, chitonous spaces [1]. W. weltneri has been collected up to 7.5 millimeters total height and has been found attached to hydroids and bryozoans [1].

Stalked or lepadiform barnacle species vastly outnumber stalkless or balaniform barnacle species in Antarctica (32 to 1) [1,2]. The greater number of stalked species in Antarctica may be due to the lack of littoral fauna (in which stalkless barnacles are well represented) and also due to periods of heavy glaciation in geologic history which impacts stalkless barnacles heavily since they tend to live in shallow water [1,2].

After their larval stage, barnacles are sedentary organisms, secreting calcareous plates which they open and close to extend and retract appendages to filter feed.

Taxonomic Note: Genus was changed from Arcoscalpellum to Weltnerium [3].

1: Antarctic Cirripedia, Monographic Account Based on Specimens Collected Chiefly Under the United States Antarctic Research Program, 1962-1965. WA Newman & A Ross. Washington DC : American Geophysical Union, 1971; 2:Advances in Marine Biology 10:1-216, 1972; 3:Zoologicheskii Zhurnal 57(9):1343-1352, 1978; 4:Kathleen Conlan, personal communication, 1999

Text ©Peter Brueggeman. Photograph ©Canadian Museum of Nature (Kathleen Conlan). Photograph may not be used in any form without the express written permission of Canadian Museum of Nature (Kathleen Conlan).