Paralepas minuta
Species of barnacle
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Paralepas minuta is a species of goose barnacle in the family Heteralepadidae.[1]
| Paralepas minuta | |
|---|---|
| |
| Several P. minuta attached to the spine of a sea urchin | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Clade: | Pancrustacea |
| Class: | Thecostraca |
| Subclass: | Cirripedia |
| Order: | Scalpellomorpha |
| Family: | Heteralepadidae |
| Genus: | Paralepas |
| Species: | P. minuta |
| Binomial name | |
| Paralepas minuta Philippi, 1836 | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Description
P. minuta is a small stalked barnacle, its body reaching lengths of no more than 5 mm and widths of about 3.8 mm. The body is roughly globular and does not bear valves; it is slightly wrinkled and yellow in colour. The stalk (peduncle) is very short (about 1 mm) and heavily contracted. The base is usually divided into two finger-like projections that grip its anchoring substrate. It has repeatedly been found attached to the spines of deep-water sea urchins.[2]
Distribution
The species has a wide distribution and occurs in the Mediterranean and off West and South Africa, Japan, the Philippines, and Australia, at depths of 110–414 m.[2]