Goose Barnacle Facts: 15 Things You Didn’t Know (Part 1)

The goose barnacle is one of the strangest marine animals out there on the planet. As such, not many people know much about these creatures. Here are just some of the facts. Stay tuned for the second part of the article, which is coming soon!

Number Fifteen: People Thought They Were Actual Geese

When the creatures were first found in medieval times, people thought they were actual geese. Well, more like geese in the making. They believed the fell into the ocean after failing to become real birds.

Number Fourteen: They’re Farmed

Despite their strange appearance. people apparently like to eat these shellfish. Europe is especially notorious for farming these creatures with the intention of mass consumption.

Number Thirteen: They Breed Fast

Some of the myths that surround the goose barnacle exist basically from the fact that they seem to appear out of nowhere. In reality, they breed quickly and grow just as fast.

Number Twelve: Some Think They’re a Blood Cure

There’s an ancient Viking legend that includes goose barnacles as being some sort of cure for “bad blood,” which was a term for those who had become ill. Some think this correlation exists because of leeches, who some believe look similar (and thus have similar “powers”).

Number Eleven: It’s Considered a Delicacy in Portugal

The Portuguese consider this creature to be one of the finest delicacies that one can consume. In some regions, the thing is even eaten whole!

Number Ten: They’re Believed to Migrate

Despite the fact that these creatures are pretty sedentary – after all, they usually just attach themselves to the bottom of things – scientists think they migrate. They certainly must, since they travel from the arctics to warmer, European waters, but their phantom motions make their migrations hard to detect

Number Nine: The Goose Barnacle Eats Plastic

Many times, goose barnacles have been seen eating plastic, and living to tell the tale (hypothetically speaking, of course). However, this correlation probably has more to do with the huge amount of pollution currently in the ocean, and less about their eating habits. There’s so much more to know about the goose barnacle. Stay tuned for part two, coming soon!