Conchoderma auritum (Linnaeus, 1767) Common name(s): Rabbit-ear barnacle, stalked whale barnacle, stalked golden whale barnacle, goosneck whale barnacle
Synonyms: Conchoderma leporinum, Lepas aurita
Phylum Arthropoda Subphylum Crustacea Class Thecostraca Subclass Cirripedia Superorder Thoracica Order Pedunculata Suborder Lepadomorpha Family Lepadidae
	Conchoderma auritum, about 6 cm long, attached to a Coronula diadema barnacle on the skin of a humpback whale.
	(Photo by: Dave Cowles, July 2026 )

Description: 

How to Distinguish from Similar Species:  Its sister species is Conchoderma virgatum, attaches to many drifting objects, sometimes benthically, as well as to whales and fish. Its color is gray with purplish stripes. Its capitulum has 5 plates, which cover about 1/2 the total height of the barnacle.

Geographical Range:  Worldwide, northern and southern hemispheres.

Depth Range:  Wpipelagic (on whales)

Habitat:  Attach to Coronulid barnacles on whales.

Biology/Natural History:  This stalked barnacle species has been observed on several whale species, and even on a porpoise. It attaches to Coronulid barnacles such as Coronula diadema, which in turn attach to whales, especially humpback whales.

References:

Dichotomous Keys:
  

General References:

Scientific Articles: 

Cornwall, I.E., 1927. Some North Pacific whale barnacles. Contributions Canadian Biol. Fish. 3 pp. 503-517

Cornwall, I.E., 1955. The barnacles of British Columbia. Br. Col. Prov. Mus. Dept. Educ. Handbook No. 7 pp. 5-69

Newman, W.A. and A. Ross, 1971. Antarctic cirripedia. American Geophysical Union of the National Academy of Sciences Antarctic Research Series 14 pp. 1-257

Nilssn-Cantell, C-A, 1939. Thoracic cirripedes collected in 1925-1936. Discovery Rep. 18 pp. 223-238

Scarff, James E., 1982. Occurrence of the barnacles Coronula diadema, C. reginae and Cetopirus complanatus (Cirripedia) on Right Whales. Scientific Report Whales Research Institute No. 37 pp. 129-153

Web sites:

General Notes and Observations: Locations, abundances, unusual behaviors:


This larger photo shows individuals attached to the Coronula diadema barnacles on humpback whale skin.

Authors and Editors of Page:
Dave Cowles (2026):  Created original page
CSS coding for page developed by Jonathan Cowles

Salish Sea Invertebrates web site provided courtesy of Walla Walla University