Purple mottled barnacle
Amphibalanus poecilotheca
Amphibalanus poecilotheca is a small to medium sized barnacle with a distinct purple and white checkered pattern. This species often attaches to sessile marine invertebrates such as the branches on hydrozoans and the shell is normally oval rather than circular in outline.
Morphology
Amphibalanus poecilotheca has a shell wall composed of six plates, and the body is protected by two pairs of opercular plates. This species is distinguished from other members of the genus by the shape and articulation of the opercular plates.
Evolution
This species has adapted as a fouling organism and typically attaches to other organisms rather than to abiotic substrates such as rocks like most fouling barnacles.
Method of reproduction
Sexual
Habitat
Marine
This species is found in shallow tropical waters and most commonly encountered attached to other sessile organisms, especially hydrozoans.
Distribution
Widespread Indo-West Pacific
Life Cycle
Several planktonic larval stages followed by a sessile adult phase.
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Crustacea |
| Class: | Maxillopoda |
| Subclass: | Thecostraca |
| Superorder: | Thoracica |
| Order: | Sessilia |
| Suborder: | Balanomorpha |
| Superfamily: | Balanoidea |
| Family: | Balanidae |
| Genus: | Amphibalanus |
| Species: | poecilotheca |
| Name Published Year: | 1911 |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name Authorship: | Krüger |
| Conservation Assessment: | Least Concern |
Cite this page
Western Australian Museum Collections https://museum.wa.gov.au/online-collections/names/amphibalanus-poecilotheca
Accessed 17 Aug 2025
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