Tetraclitella
Tetraclitella is a genus of barnacles in the family Tetraclitidae. Barnacles are crustaceans that are sessile, meaning they attach to surfaces and do not move around. They are filter feeders, using their feathery appendages to capture food from the water. Tetraclitella is distinguished by its distinctive shell morphology, which features four plates, or “valves,” arranged in a characteristic pattern. The genus is found worldwide in a variety of marine habitats.
Common Names
There are no common names for members of the genus Tetraclitella.
Characteristics
Members of the genus Tetraclitella have a distinctive shell morphology that distinguishes them from other barnacles. The shell is composed of four plates, known as valves, arranged in a specific pattern. The valves are typically arranged in two pairs, with two valves on the dorsal side (the top) and two valves on the ventral side (the bottom). The shell of Tetraclitella is typically smooth and white, but some species may have a slightly rough or colored shell.
Tetraclitella also has a unique reproductive system. They are hermaphroditic, meaning they have both male and female reproductive organs. This allows them to reproduce without the need for a separate male or female partner.
Environments
Tetraclitella barnacles are found in a variety of marine environments, including:
- Intertidal zones: These are areas of the coastline that are exposed to air at low tide and submerged at high tide. Tetraclitella can tolerate these fluctuations in salinity and temperature.
- Subtidal zones: These are areas of the coastline that are permanently submerged. Tetraclitella is found on a variety of substrates in these zones, including rocks, shells, and other barnacles.
- Estuaries: These are areas where rivers meet the sea. Tetraclitella can tolerate a wide range of salinities, making them well-suited to these environments.
References
World Register of Marine Species
A new species of Tetraclitella (Cirripedia: Tetraclitidae) from the Atlantic coast of North America