Chthamalus


Chthamalus is a genus of barnacles that is found along almost all non-boreal coasts of the Northern Hemisphere, as well as many regions in the Southern Hemisphere. These small barnacles have been studied in part because of the taxonomic confusion over a group of species that, by and large, are morphologically and ecologically quite similar. In recent years, molecular techniques have identified a number of cryptic species that have been subsequently confirmed by taxonomists using morphological measurements. Most recently the genus has been shown to be paraphyletic, with the genus Microeuraphia nested within Chthamalus.

Field Identification

Identification of barnacles in the field can be challenging, and identification of particular species of Chthamalus is not considered reliable in the field other than a few species. However, a notable distinction in the arrangement of wall plates can help biologists distinguish Chthamalid barnacles from the other common barnacles in the family Balanidae. In chthamalid barnacles, the side plates overlap both the rostrum and the carina, while in balanids one end plate overlaps the adjoining side plates.

Species

The following species are included in the genus Chthamalus:Chthamalus angustitergum Pilsbry, 1916Chthamalus anisopoma Pilsbry, 1916Chthamalus antennatus Darwin, 1854Chthamalus barnesi Achituv & Safriel, 1980Chthamalus bisinuatus Chthamalus challengeri Hoek, 1883Chthamalus dalli Pilsbry, 1916 Chthamalus dentatus Krauss, 1848 Chthamalus fissus Darwin, 1854Chthamalus fragilis Darwin, 1854 Chthamalus hedgecocki Pitombo & Burton, 2007Chthamalus malayensis Pilsbry, 1916Chthamalus montagui Southward, 1976 Chthamalus moro Pilsbry, 1916Chthamalus newmani Chan, 2016Chthamalus panamensis Pilsbry, 1916Chthamalus proteus Dando & Southward, 1980 Chthamalus sinensis Ren, 1984Chthamalus southwardi Poltarukha, 2000Chthamalus southwardorum Pitombo & Burton, 2007Chthamalus stellatus Chthamalus williamsi Chan & Cheang, 2015
  • † Chthamalus graziani Carriol, 2008
  • † Chthamalus ligusticus de Alessandri, 1895
  • † Chthamalus nasus Carriol, 2008
  • † Chthamalus robustus Carriol, 2008