Barnacle Barnacle A barnacle is a type of arthropod constituting the infraclass Cirripedia in the subphylum Crustacea, and is hence related to crabs and lobsters. Barnacles are exclusively marine, and tend to live in shallow and tidal waters, typically in erosive settings. They are sessile (nonmotile) suspension feeders, and have two nektonic (active swimming) larval stages. Around 1,220 barnacle species are currently known. The name "Cirripedia" is Latin, meaning "curl-footed". The study of barnacles is called cirripedology. Barnacles are encrusters, attaching themselves permanently to a hard substrate. The most common, "acorn barnacles" (Sessilia), are sessile, growing their shells directly onto the
Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy Boy remembered from differing perspectives). Barnacle Boy is depicted as being the undercredited and underappreciated younger sidekick of Mermaid Man. Grumpy and slightly ill-tempered, Barnacle Boy is notable for his brooding, moody disposition and exasperation with his partner's absentminded behavior as a result of old age, and even into his , Barnacle Boy is still treated in a juvenile fashion, coddled in an infantile way. He has largely maintained his nondescript slender physique over time. In the video game "", it is revealed that Barnacle Boy has a son, a daughter-in-law, and four grandchildren which he notes to be his