Lepadomorpha

Lepadomorpha refers to a superorder of barnacles, which are sedentary marine crustaceans. These crustaceans are highly modified and typically possess a calcareous shell composed of articulated plates. Barnacles, along with their allies, are part of the infraclass Cirripedia.1

The Lepadomorpha includes pedunculate barnacles, also known as goose barnacles. These barnacles differ from sessile barnacles in that their principal body is elevated above the substrate by a peduncle, which is a stalk-like structure. This peduncle can be armored with calcareous plates. Pedunculate barnacles are found attached to various substrates and occupy a wide range of habitats. Some species are symbiotic, while others have become parasitic. The fossil record for pedunculate barnacles extends back to the Cambrian and Silurian periods.123