Cryptolepas rachianecti

Gray whale barnacle:

Gray whale barnacle (Cryptolepas rachianecti): This species is almost entirely buried into its host Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus), unlike Humpback whale barnacle (Coronula diadema), which is a parasite on the Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae).

There is some evidence that whale lice such as Gray whale lice (Cyamus scammoni) help keep down the numbers of whale barnacles by causing the skin to heal and expel the barnacles.

When a specimen is found that isn't attached to a whale, it can be identified by the very restricted amount of barnacle that sticks out of the skin. Humpback whale barnacle (Coronula diadema) isn't as squat, and sticks further out.

Local Notes

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References

Weblinks

• WoRMS Page for Cryptolepas rachianecti
• Search Arctos Database for Cryptolepas rachianecti (Southeast only)
• Search Arctos Database for Cryptolepas rachianecti (entire database)
• Encyclopedia of Life search for Cryptolepas rachianecti
• iNaturalist Observations for Cryptolepas rachianecti in Southeast Alaska

Other References

• Lamb Hanby 2005
• Kozloff 1996
• Morris 1980

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  Gray whale barnacle (Cryptolepas rachianecti)

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