New Zealand Journal of Ecology (1978) 1: 77- 80

©New Zealand Ecological Society

Records of nektonic existence of the sessile barnacle (Megabalanus decorus)

Research Article
M. B. Jones 1
B. A. Foster 2
  1. Department of Zoology, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
  2. Department of Zoology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
Abstract: 

The balanomorph barnacle Megabalanus decorus (Darwin, 1854) (Balanidae) is recorded attached to a plastic fish tag taken from a trevally (Caranx georgianus) collected in the Bay of Plenty (37° 53.2' S, 176° 50' E), and attached to the spine of the posterior dorsal fin of a male dogfish (Squalus acanthias L.) trawled from off the Kaikoura Peninsula (42° 25' S, 173° 42' E), New Zealand. Despite its extensive geographical distribution from the Kermadec Islands (30° S, 178° 30' E) to Macquarie Island (54° 29' S, 158° 58' E), and its usage of ships, sharks and other nektonic objects, M. decoru has not spread beyond the New Zealand region.

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