PORT PHILLIP BAY


Australasian Barnacle 

Austrominius modestus Darwin, 1854

View scientific description and taxonomy

Scientific Details

See below for information.

Source: Poore and Syme (2009) Barnacles, Museum Victoria.

Taxonomy

Phylum:
Arthropoda
Subphylum:
Crustacea
Class:
Maxillopoda
Subclass:
Thecostraca
Superorder:
Thoracica
Order:
Sessilia
Suborder:
Balanomorpha
Family:
Austrobalanidae
Genus:
Austrominius
Species:
modestus

General Description

Four white-grey side plates (red-brown in young animals), with white ridges that radiate from the opening to the edge. One black spot on the white mantle (seen in the opening when the animal emerges). Opening diamond shape. Up to 12 mm high, 1 cm wide.

Biology

This species can tolerate silt and fluctuating salinity. It is often found in estuaries or attached to ships.

Habitat

Rocky shores, to depth of 90 m.

Reefs

Coastal shores

Distribution guide

Southern Australia.

Species Group

Barnacles Acorn barnacles

Depth

Shore (0-1 m)
Shallow (1-30 m)
Deep ( > 30 m)

Water Column

On or near sea floor

Max Size

1 cm

Diet

Plankton or Particles

Commercial Species

No

Global Dispersal

Native to Australia

Species Code

MoV 996

Identify

Conservation Status

  • DSE Advisory List : Not listed
  • EPBC Act 1999 : Not listed
  • IUCN Red List : Not listed

Author

article author Taylor, J.

Dr. Jo Taylor is the Sciences Collections Online Coordinator at Museum Victoria.

Author

article author Patullo, B.

Blair Patullo is Online Producer for marine projects at Museum Victoria.

citation

Cite this page as:
Taylor, J. & Patullo, B., 2011, Australasian Barnacle, Austrominius modestus, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 09 Oct 2024, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/6240

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