Citation: Nichols, A.R. 1915 Floating barnacles on the coast of Antrim. Irish Naturalist 24: 189-190
Number of Pages: 2
Keywords: Antrim, Barnacle, Crustacea, Fauna, Marine, Northern Ireland, Open Coast, Stranding
Abstract: This short note records the occurrence of thousands of 'whitish, globular, spongy masses, varying in size from a marble to a tennis ball' found between Portrush and Whiterocks, as well as Portstewart and Ballycastle in counties Derry and Antrim. These floating masses are formed by barnacles (Lepas fascicularis), 'and consist of a vesicular mass of secretion produced by certain glands (cement glands) situated in the peduncle of the barnacle. They had generally grown round a piece of seaweed (Fucus vesiculosus chiefly) [which served] to give additional buoyancy to this species of barnacle, that is usually found floating near the surface of the sea'.