Can anyone ID these please

[buchhawk]

We were diving of Donagal today, when we saw a large lump of wood, we fished it out to discover it covered in mussle like creatures.
We don't think they are native to our waters, can anyone shed any light on what they.
Picture taken by fellow YD Peter M



Thanks Ken

[Richard Mason]

Originally Posted by buchhawk

We were diving of Donagal today, when we saw a large lump of wood, we fished it out to discover it covered in mussle like creatures.
We don't think they are native to our waters, can anyone shed any light on what they.
Picture taken by fellow YD Peter M



Thanks Ken

Goose barnacles. They are actually a crustacean, like a crab and are very common on driftwood, ships bottoms etc.

BBC - Science & Nature - Wildfacts - Goose barnacle

Gooseneck barnacle - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

not to be confused with:

Barnacle Goose - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[buchhawk]

Thanks very much Richard
Ken

[Lou]

The question is - just how narked were you not to notice them when you found the wood - they are fairly sizeable beasties - and in that quantity you must have been trying hard to miss them!

[Fiona]

I am guessing the piece of wood was floating on the surface and the beasties were underneath - but I could be wrong

[CotoChris]

Goose neck barnacales or percebes as its called here.
A speciality in this part of the world. Went to the market on saturday and they were selling it at €90 kilo. They are delicious. Boil them for 1 minute, eat hot or cold ( I prefer hot). You twist the rubber 'casing' above the foot and eat the rubber interior. delicious.......

They tend to live between the tide mark and need well oxigentated water. They also live on driftwood. In the 'Life of Pi' it mentioned them living on the bottom of the boat.

[buchhawk]

Originally Posted by Fiona

I am guessing the piece of wood was floating on the surface and the beasties were underneath - but I could be wrong

Spot on Fiona.
Ken

[buchhawk]

Originally Posted by CotoChris

Goose neck barnacales or percebes as its called here.
A speciality in this part of the world. Went to the market on saturday and they were selling it at €90 kilo. They are delicious. Boil them for 1 minute, eat hot or cold ( I prefer hot). You twist the rubber 'casing' above the foot and eat the rubber interior. delicious.......

They tend to live between the tide mark and need well oxigentated water. They also live on driftwood. In the 'Life of Pi' it mentioned them living on the bottom of the boat.

Thanks Chris.
If I had only known they were edible always next time
Ken

[A. Berk]

Originally Posted by Lou

The question is - just how narked were you not to notice them when you found the wood - they are fairly sizeable beasties - and in that quantity you must have been trying hard to miss them!

Oiy, are you tryin' to knock me off of the top Berk perch? 'Driftwood' @ narcosis depth ie 40+ m wood knot be would drifting but wood bee would sunk, er... 'sunkwood' in fact.

Berk

[Richard Mason]

Originally Posted by CotoChris

Goose neck barnacales or percebes as its called here.
A speciality in this part of the world. Went to the market on saturday and they were selling it at €90 kilo. They are delicious. Boil them for 1 minute, eat hot or cold ( I prefer hot). You twist the rubber 'casing' above the foot and eat the rubber interior. delicious.......

They tend to live between the tide mark and need well oxigentated water. They also live on driftwood. In the 'Life of Pi' it mentioned them living on the bottom of the boat.

Ooooer. Not sure I'd eat anything that looks like it was made by the Dr Who special effects dept.