10. They used to be classified as Molluscs
9. They are one of the few Crustaceans that are sessile
8. Barnacles have no gills—gases are exchanged through cirri (feathery legs) and body walls
7.In less than two years, 10 tons of barnacles can become attached to a tanker.
6.They stick themselves head first to the substrate. Cement glands within the antennae produce the brown glue that fastens a barnacle to a hard surface. Acids and alkalis do not dissolve this incredibly strong glue that can hold the base of the shell to a surface long after the barnacle is dead. Dentists, interested in the adhesive power of this glue, have been trying to determine its properties.
5. They like to live on whales
4.You can eat them: Gooseneck barnacles are now being farmed in the state of Washington. They can be found in some specialty fish markets. Before cooking barnacles, thoroughly rinse them, rubbing gently to dislodge any sand. Most recipes call for quick cooking, either by boiling, steaming or grilling. Barnacles may be served hot, cold or at room temperature, usually with a simple embellishment of melted butter or any sauce commonly used for other CRUSTACEANs. To eat, peel off the outer skin, then bite off the neck. When removing the skin, a soupçon of orange (fabric-staining) liquid sometimes spurts out, so be cautious. The flavor of barnacles is compared variously to that of crab, lobster or shrimp.
3.An old legend tells that a type of goose "the barnacle goose" hatched from barnacles
2.Darwin spent 8 years studying them and wrote an entire monograph on their taxonomy
1.Barnacles have the largest penis to body size ratio of the animal kingdom
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