Striped Barnacle (Balanus amphitrite)

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Striped Barnacle (Balanus amphitrite)
Please Note This Is A Live Science Specimen

The Striped Barnacle (Balanus amphitrite) is a small, sessile crustacean that attaches firmly to rocks, floats, pilings, and other intertidal surfaces. Recognized by its distinctive off-white shell marked with purple stripes, this barnacle species thrives in tidal zones exposed to regular wave action and currents. Its filter-feeding behavior makes it an important part of coastal ecosystems, demonstrating adaptation to life in changing marine environments.

Ideal for aquariums, classroom study, or marine ecology displays, these colonies provide an authentic glimpse into intertidal biodiversity and benthic community structure.

Common name: Striped barnacle
Scientific name: Balanus amphitrite
Locations: “Glued” to pilings, floats, rocks, boats, and sea creatures of the intertidal zone
Seasonality: Available all year
Colors: Off-white, purple stripes
Size: ½″ – ¾″
Collected: By hand
Quantity: Sold by the group on a rock

Uses: Excellent for marine tanks, classroom ecology lessons, and intertidal zone studies.

Note: This is a live marine specimen. Natural variations in size, color, and appearance from photos should be expected. If you would like any specimen preserved, please send a request to: info@gulfofme.com.

Striped Barnacle (Balanus amphitrite)
Please Note This Is A Live Science Specimen

The Striped Barnacle (Balanus amphitrite) is a small, sessile crustacean that attaches firmly to rocks, floats, pilings, and other intertidal surfaces. Recognized by its distinctive off-white shell marked with purple stripes, this barnacle species thrives in tidal zones exposed to regular wave action and currents. Its filter-feeding behavior makes it an important part of coastal ecosystems, demonstrating adaptation to life in changing marine environments.

Ideal for aquariums, classroom study, or marine ecology displays, these colonies provide an authentic glimpse into intertidal biodiversity and benthic community structure.

Common name: Striped barnacle
Scientific name: Balanus amphitrite
Locations: “Glued” to pilings, floats, rocks, boats, and sea creatures of the intertidal zone
Seasonality: Available all year
Colors: Off-white, purple stripes
Size: ½″ – ¾″
Collected: By hand
Quantity: Sold by the group on a rock

Uses: Excellent for marine tanks, classroom ecology lessons, and intertidal zone studies.

Note: This is a live marine specimen. Natural variations in size, color, and appearance from photos should be expected. If you would like any specimen preserved, please send a request to: info@gulfofme.com.

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This large striped barnacle lives on a sea scallop shell.

This large striped barnacle lives on a sea scallop shell.

Tidepool Tim says,  “The purple stripes on these stand out among rock barnacles. The striped plates covering the animal are called capitulum plates. Its moving opercular lid has two triangular halves that flex open and allow emergence of feeding legs. These barnacles attach directly to rocks, boats, animals, pilings, and other solid surfaces with incredible strength with the cement-like substance they produce.