Austromegabalanus nigrescens

Austromegabalanus nigrescens, the giant black barnacle, is a species of acorn barnacle found along the coasts of Australia and the west Pacific.

Austromegabalanus nigrescens
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Thecostraca
Subclass:	Cirripedia
Order:	Balanomorpha
Family:	Balanidae
Genus:	Austromegabalanus
Species:	A. nigrescens
Binomial name
Austromegabalanus nigrescens (Lamarck, 1818)

Classification

Austromegabalanus nigrescens, colloquially known as the giant black barnacle, was first scientifically described in 1818 as Balanus nigrescens by Jean-Baptiste Lamarck.^[1]

Description

The giant black barnacle is the largest species of acorn barnacle found on Australia' coastlines, growing up to 6 cm tall and 3 cm across.^[2]

Distribution

Giant black barnacle pictured in New Zealand's Taranaki region.

Giant black barnacles are found in New Zealand and the south of Australia.^[2]