“Barnacles: Nature’s Most SHOCKING Animal?!”

Facts! 🦀 Crustaceans, Not Mollusks Barnacles are arthropods, closely related to crabs, lobsters, and shrimp. Despite their shell-like appearance, they’re not mollusks (like clams or snails). They even molt their exoskeletons as they grow! “They’re ANIMALS! (Not rocks, not plants)" 🦀 Darwin’s Obsession Charles Darwin spent 8 years studying barnacles, publishing a four-volume monograph that laid groundwork for his theory of evolution. He called this period his "barnacle years." 🦀 Underwater Superglue: Barnacles secrete a powerful adhesive called "barnacle cement" to permanently attach to surfaces. While not stronger than epoxy resins in tensile strength, its adhesion strength (5–25 MPa) rivals commercial glues—and it works underwater on almost any material, even Teflon! Scientists study it for medical uses (like sealing wounds or dental adhesives) because it’s biocompatible and durable in wet conditions. 🦀 Record-Holding Reproductive Anatomy: Barnacles have the longest penis relative to body size in the animal kingdom. Some species extend their penis up to 8 times their body length to reach neighboring mates (since they can’t move once settled). 🦀 Feeding with Feathery Legs: Barnacles feed by rhythmically kicking out modified legs called cirri to trap plankton. They retract when exposed to air, surviving tides by sealing their shells with a waterproof "operculum." #Science #OceanLovers #MarineBiology #DBrainFuel #Barnacle https://www.youtube.com/@d-brainfuel https://www.instagram.com/dbrainfuel/ https://www.facebook.com/people/D-Brain-Fuel/61574529035003/ https://www.tiktok.com/@dbrainfuel