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Acorn Barnacles (but what species?) attached to rock about 40ft below the surface in Monterey Bay. Viewing video (http://www.youtube.com/v/SkQWWe8PzWE) may help in identification. At least 2 inches / 5 cm long, but possibly longer (hard to tell because of being surrounded by Strawberry Anemones (Corynactis californica). Very light colored, or possibly even white, "legs"/cirri (seen sticking out in first photograph). Second photograph is same view as first, except with the legs retracted. Yellow/orange internal membrane seen in Barnacle closing in photos 3, 4, and 5.
Rocks of Monterey Bay
The Spotting Coordinates are approximate, but specifically these pictures were taken while scuba diving at Chase Reef in Monterey Bay, California on February 23, 2014. As seen in the attached video (http://www.youtube.com/v/SkQWWe8PzWE), a rock was covered with Strawberry Anemones (Corynactis californica) and Acorn Barnacles that were actively feeding, extending their legs and sweeping through the water with their cirri to grab food and bring it into their shells. In the video there are at least 7 Barnacles: At the very beginning you can see 3, up close in the right half of the screen. Also at the beginning (but more clearly at 00:05) there is another, just to the left of the middle, pointing out of the rock, perpendicular to the line of sight. Then, if you look very carefully (at 00:08) there are at least two more faintly visible in the distance facing directly toward the camera. Finally (at 00:26), you see one that does not have its legs out, but which is closing its colorful operculum. For the best viewing, you may need to force YouTube to the highest resolution (click on the gear icon and select the 720p HD resolution). This video was taken using ambient light at a depth of roughly 40 ft (~12 m). The water was a brisk 46 F (~ 7.8 C). As you can tell from the movement of the particulates, there was considerable back and forth water motion in the vicinity of the rocks. The photographs are cropped from still-frames of the video.
Spotted on Feb 23, 2014
Submitted on Mar 9, 2014
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