Megabalanus azoricus
Megabalanus azoricus | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Subphylum: | Crustacea |
Class: | Thecostraca |
Subclass: | Cirripedia |
Order: | Balanomorpha |
Family: | Balanidae |
Genus: | Megabalanus |
Species: | M. azoricus
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Binomial name | |
Megabalanus azoricus (Pilsbry, 1916)
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Megabalanus azoricus, the Azorean barnacle, is a species of large barnacle in the family Balanidae endemic to the Azores. It is the largest and third most common shallow water barnacle of the Azores, where it is heavily exploited for food and has a high comercial value since the colonization of the islands. It was included in the 100 species for priority management within Macaronesia. It is a thoracopodal filter feeder and the majority are hermaphrodites. It is more abundant in the first 3 m (9.8 ft) on the low intertidal and infralittoral rocky shores.[1][2] The empty shells of the barnacles are a vital habitat for the blennies Parablennius ruber, P. incognitus and Coryphoblennius galerita as they provide shelter and substrata for egg deposition during reproduction. A large number of invertebrate species also use the empty shells.[3] Although present throughout the archipelago, it is more abundant in the eastern islands. It has a genetic similarity with Megabalanus tintinnabulum. Some crucial features of the M. azoricus species are digonic hermaphroditism in sessile adults, development of planktotrophic larvae, dependence on exposed rocky shores in the intertidal habitat, and insular distribution restricted to the northeastern Atlantic oceanic islands.[4]
References[]
- ^ Dionisio, Costa, Rodrigues, Maria Ana, Ana, Armindo. "Re-examination of Megabalanus azoricus (Cirripedia: Balanomorpha): A natural and edible resource to preserve". ResearchGate. Retrieved 16 February 2021.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
- ^ Nunes, Paulino, Rodeia, De Girolamo, Isidro, Carla, Bárbara, Joao, Mirko, Eduardo. "O cultivo larvar da craca Megabalanus azoricus, nos laboratórios AquaLab". ResearchGate. Retrieved 16 February 2021.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
- ^ "Azorean barnacle" (PDF). OSPAR Convention. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
- ^ Quinteiro, Manent, Pérez-Diéguez, Rey-Méndez, González-Henríquez, Javier, Pablo, Lois, Manuel, Nieves. "Phylogeography of a Marine Insular Endemic in the Atlantic Macaronesia: The Azorean Barnacle, Megabalanus azoricus (Pilsbry, 1916)". PLOS One. Retrieved 16 February 2021.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
- Barnacles
- Endemic fauna of the Azores
- Crustaceans described in 1916