Description

 Pedunculate, goose or goose-neck barnacles have a flexible, muscular stalk, known as the peduncle, which supports the main body known as the capitulum. In Pollicipes pollicipes the capitulum is triangular in nature and white-grey in colour. A number of plates of different sizes protect the capitulum, increasing to over 100 in number with age. The plates may reach up to 0.5 mm in length. Six pairs of thin, feather-like cirri can be seen to arise from within the mantle cavity and are used for feeding. The peduncle may reach over 10 cm in length and is strongly attached to the substratum to withstand repeated battering in wave exposed conditions.Pollicipes pollicipes may be host to other juveniles of the species, or even adults of other barnacles, which may settle on the peduncle or capitulum of the adult Pollicipes pollicipes.