Goose Barnacle

Lepas anatifera

Markings and exact colorations may vary.

Stalked barnacles clustered on drifting wood, floats and debris, with pearly white plates.

Typical size
1–4 in
How often it turns up
Common on drift
Collecting
Usually legal to collect

Dried clusters on wood are fine to keep. Report anything attached to unusual debris.

Handling
May be alive

How to tell it apart

  • Fleshy stalk topped with white plates
  • Grows in clusters on floating objects
  • Feathery legs visible when wet

Where to find these in Florida

Beaches rated very good or excellent for tidepool life. Each page shows today’s score, the best window and access details.

Found one?

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