Barnicles and where they grow

[Phonedave]

This weekend my oldest child asked me how come she has never seen a barnicle on a dolphin.

I realized that I did not know.

So I did some looking, and the best I could come up with is that a dolphin's skin has small ripples on it that discourage attachemnt, and that the dolphin exudes a "anti-barnicle" gel.

But that answer really does not satisfy. How come barnicles seem to love baleen whales, but you never seem them on dolphins or sharks. Of for that matter sea cows. In fact, the only living thing I can think of that has barnicles growing on it is a whale (Parasitic "internal" barnicles are a different story)

What makes baleen whales so special that a barnicle can and will attach to it?

-dave

[rickharris]

Maybe that's why dolphin leap out of the water and crash back in to discourage parasites. Most fish manage to avoid barnicles - I always assumed it was the slime on their skins that did it.

[Old Dad]

You're in luck today, PD. I just happened to have read an article in one of my past issues of Popular Science which discussed that very thing. Researchers determined that the whole trick was a matter of skin texture. They had hoped their work would lead to something that could be applied to ships but hadn't decided just what to do with what they'd learned.

[Phonedave]

You're in luck today, PD. I just happened to have read an article in one of my past issues of Popular Science which discussed that very thing. Researchers determined that the whole trick was a matter of skin texture. They had hoped their work would lead to something that could be applied to ships but hadn't decided just what to do with what they'd learned.

I think we read the same article. The skin has "micro-ripples" on it that prevent the barnicle from attaching, but not effecting the hydrodynamics of the dolphin

Well, thats all well and good for the dolphins.

And at first that satisfied me.

But then I got to thinking

About the only living thing that I know that has barnicles on a regular basis are whales - mainly baleen whales.

So, if everything else in the ocean has developed a way to prevent barnicle infestation, why are whales behind the evolutionary curve?

As far as I know, its not a symbiotic relation. The barnicle does not harm the whale, but it does not help it either.

Rick - there is specualtion that one of the reasons whales breach is to try and dislodge parasites.

-dave

[Old Dad]

You're in luck today, PD. I just happened to have read an article in one of my past issues of Popular Science which discussed that very thing. Researchers determined that the whole trick was a matter of skin texture. They had hoped their work would lead to something that could be applied to ships but hadn't decided just what to do with what they'd learned.

I think we read the same article. The skin has "micro-ripples" on it that prevent the barnicle from attaching, but not effecting the hydrodynamics of the dolphin

Well, thats all well and good for the dolphins.

And at first that satisfied me.

But then I got to thinking

About the only living thing that I know that has barnicles on a regular basis are whales - mainly baleen whales.

So, if everything else in the ocean has developed a way to prevent barnicle infestation, why are whales behind the evolutionary curve?

As far as I know, its not a symbiotic relation. The barnicle does not harm the whale, but it does not help it either.

Rick - there is specualtion that one of the reasons whales breach is to try and dislodge parasites.

-dave

Hi, Dave,

Yup, I believe we did. They must not pose a tremendous problem for whales - at least while there was still large numbers of them (whales, I mean) - and that's probably the only natural means the little varmits had for spreading across the world. Although I guess they could probably hitchike on stuff like driftwood and coconuts.

[Major Tom]

Excuse my ignorant question, but I was really unaware of what those things are called in English until now.
Is it Barnicles or Barnacles?

Major T.

[Old Dad]

Excuse my ignorant question, but I was really unaware of what those things are called in English until now.
Is it Barnicles or Barnacles?

Major T.

Hi, MT,

The latter - with an "a".

[Ted]

I've never encountered much info on this subject and most is speculative.
There doesn't appear to have been much research done yet.
Most practical application research into barnacles is geared towards preventing attachment or getting rid of the little beggers.
The baleen whales, actually all mammals, produce substances called macroglobulins that may be species specific and may function as an attractant for barnacles. It may indicate the location of a satisfactory substrate to the barnacle larva.
The association does, indeed, appear to be commensal with no obvious benefit or harm to the whales.

Here is an article that covers most of what I've ever found on the topic.

There is also a barnacle that lives in the throat of Caretta caretta - the Loggerhead Sea Turtle.
There was some research into it's attachment mechanism some 20 years ago with an eye towards improved dental adhesives that would work on moist tissue surfaces but I haven't seen any new info.

[Sunflowers]

I've found several articles on whale barnacles. This one postulates that it may also be that dolphins swim faster than the slower ones like grey whales. I also didn't know that whale barnacles are actually related to crustaceans. Another article from the same source.

Another interesting hypothesis

A scientific study

They've been around for some time!!!

Photos of whale barnacles and lice