Rosette Barnacle, Tetraclitella purpurascens

Form:

Barnacle with a low, wide shell made up of four wall plates, with a distinctive, rough, scaly appearance.

In uneroded specimens, where the shell plates are distinct, the orifice is diamond shaped. The inside of the plates is finely porous, forming a honeycomb pattern.

Colour:

Exterior grey-white, with a mauve or greenish tinge.

Distribution:

Occurs from Queensland, south around southern Australian shores to Western Australia.

Habitat:

Found at any level on rocky ocean shores, up to high water neap. Always found in protected and semi-protected situations. It prefers crevices, or shelters under boulders, or sloping rocks where there is shade. It is sensitive to being dried out by the sun.

References:

Bennett, I. (1987) W.J. Dakin's classic study: Australian Seashores. p.246, Angus & Robertson, Sydney.

Davey, K. (1998) A Photographic Guide to Seashore Life of Australia. p.43, New Holland, Sydney.

Edgar, G.J. (1997) Australian Marine Life: the plants and animals of temperate waters. p.173, Reed Books, Kew.

Jones, D, & Morgan, G. (1994) A Field Guide to Crustaceans of Australian Waters. p.34, Reed.

Quinn, G.P., Wescott, G.C. & Synnot, R.N. (1992) Life on the Rocky Shores of South-Eastern Australia: an illustrated field guide. p.64, Victorian National Parks Association, Melbourne.

Marine Research Group of Victoria (1984) Coastal Invertebrates of Victoria: an atlas of selected species. p.106, Museum of Victoria, Melbourne.

Underwood, A.J. & Chapman, M.G. (1993) Seashores: a beachcomber's guide. p.36, New South Wales University Press, Sydney.

Barnacles

Surf Barnacle
Six-plated Barnacle
Honeycomb Barnacle
Rose-coloured Barnacle
Rosette Barnacle
Giant Rock Barnacle

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