General Description
Four side plates, forming a wide conical shape. Colour varies, including white, grey or purple. Opening diamond shape. Up to 1 cm high, 3 cm wide.
Biology
These barnacles attach to shaded rock surfaces, such as crevices where they are protected from waves. They also attach to abalone or mussel shells.
Habitat
Sheltered areas of rocky shores, at mid to high tide levels.
Reefs
Coastal shores
Distribution guide
New Zealand and southern Australia.
Species Group
Depth
Shore (0-1 m)
Shallow (1-30 m)
Water Column
Max Size
3 cm
Diet
Plankton or Particles
Commercial Species
No
Global Dispersal
Recorded in Australia
Identify
Conservation Status
- DSE Advisory List : Not listed
- EPBC Act 1999 : Not listed
- IUCN Red List : Not listed
Author
Dr. Jo Taylor is the Sciences Collections Online Coordinator at Museum Victoria.
Author
Blair Patullo is Online Producer for marine projects at Museum Victoria.
Cite this page as:
Taylor, J. & Patullo, B., 2011, Purple Four-plated Barnacle, Tetraclitella purpurascens, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 27 Jul 2024, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/7789
