Goose Barnacles

I am indebted to Trevor Buttle for this picture of Goose Barnacles washed up on the beach at Pett Level.  My apologies to Trevor for the time it has taken to actually post it.

Goose Barnacles

The goose barnacles are attached to a discarded fishing float.  In the days before migration was properly understood, it was thought that the barnacle goose grew from goose barnacles. Because the birds migrated, they were never seen to breed, so people turned to the most likely explanation - that the geese grew from something resembling a goose, at least from the shoulder up.  I don't know what species they are (there are several) but one of the most common  and widespread species is Lepas anserifera, a name which reflects the goose idea - anser = goose.

They are crustaceans that attach themselves to hard surfaces and are filter feeders that feed on a variety of zoo-plankton and detritus.