Goose barnacles
Goose barnacles are odd-looking crustaceans usually found in quite deep water. Occasionally they can be found on debris that has become dislodged from the sea bed and washed up on the shore.
Barnacle geese (Branta leucopsis) are birds, and goose barnacles (genus Lepas) are crustaceans-so why are their common names so similar? Because medieval European monks believed these two species were one and the same.
Once the barnacle is older and has it's tough outer shell, few predators can actually eat it. Humans are known to eat goose barnacles (the only edible species of barnacle) in parts of Europe like Spain and Portugal.
Small fish, oil droplets and molluscs are also taken by many species. Some species are known to be rather more specialised; the Grey-backed Storm-petrel is known to concentrate on the larvae of goose barnacles.
 See also: Goose, Crustacean, Geese, Shrimp, Whale
  
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