Monday 16 July 2012

BALANUS-ARTHROPODA

It is commonly called rock barnacle.It is marine crustacean found attached to rocks, shell of hermit crabs.The mantle surrounding the body is covered by six calcareous plates an unpaired carina unpaired rostrum and two pairs of lateral plates.The opening of the mantle is provided with the fourfold lid,consisting of two  scuta and two terga.There is six pairs of delicate ,fringed legs. In water this legs propel food to mouth .When the tide is out the mantle plates close for protections. Rock barnacles are serious pests on the bottom of ships.

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