Name: Barnacle Goose (Branta leucopsis) Length: 55 to 70 cm. Excessive growth of the algae rockweed can also overpower a colony of barnacles. And with prices hitting the rocket amount of 300 euros per kilo during the Christmas season, nor the most affordable one either. Goose barnacles often wash up on our shores attached to flotsam after big storms. How to Buy, Cook and Eat Percebes, the Crazy Looking Crustaceans Chefs Adore this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. 7 Beautiful Barnacle Goose Facts. They are percebes, a rare seafood delicacy famous in the town of Salango, Manabi. Leucopsis in the Barnacle Goose’s scientific name comes from the ancient Greek words leuko meaning “white” and opsis meaning “faced.” There are different ways to cook the barnacles, but ultimately simplicity is best: with water and salt. There are over 400,000 Barnacle Geese in the world today. Despite this, individual acorn barnacles operate in terms of gender. Acorn barnacles are similar, in taste, to tiny oysters. The barnacle goose (Branta leucopsis) belongs to the genus Branta of black geese, which contains species with largely black plumage, distinguishing them from the grey Anser species. Goose barnacles live attached to rocks, ships, ropes or flotsam floating out at sea. To all of you returning from a long (cold) weekend at the shore, welcome back! Photo courtesy Aleria Jensen, NOAA/NMFS/AKFSC Photo courtesy Aleria Jensen, NOAA/NMFS/AKFSC Fact 1: … Some Irish clerics tried using the above 2 legends as an excuse to eat the meat of … Diet: Grass, sedge, roots, moss, herbs. And contrary to popular opinion, the wrong way is to eat it is in Galicia.. Conservation status: Least Concern. There's a right way and a wrong way to eat a goose barnacle. Their main predators are whelks--snails that envelop the barnacle's cone and force the valves open.The blue mussel is a competitor for space, possibly outgrowing and smothering barnacles. Barnacles eat plankton and waste particles in water. Not the prettiest looking food, nor the easiest one to eat. And contrary to popular opinion, the wrong way is to eat it is in Galicia.. by Yoni on May 29, 2013 with No comments. But the goose barnacles found on Spain’s Atlantic coast are hailed by many in Galicia as the most delicious fruit of the sea you can find. Do Barnacle Geese have any natural predators? Percebes —Spanish for goose barnacles— are the unquestionable secret gem of Spanish seafood. As someone who loves seafood, I knew I had to try them. Goose Barnacles are widely consumed and an expensive delicacy in Portugal .. You will find Goose Barnacles ( Percebes , in Portuguese ) specially in the Southwestern of the Portuguese Coast in Alentejo.Along the sandy white beaches you will find amazing restaurants with the local delicacies . What do goose barnacles eat? They've even been spotted on a chunk of spaceship that washed up in the Isles of Scilly! 4. Many times, goose barnacles have been seen eating plastic, and living to tell the tale (hypothetically speaking, of course). Gooseneck barnacles are also quite edible, except, of course, for the shell and the thick covering on the neck. Barnacles feed on plankton they sweep from the water with their fan-like feet. Weight: 1 to 2.25kg. These barnacles are attached to the ventral pleats of a humpback whale calf. Barnacle Goose. Barnacles eat things like plankton by filter-feeding. One acorn barnacle is female with both types of organs, while the same applies to a male. This is why it is not the cheapest seafood you will find in Portugal, but possibly one of the best. It is a dangerous job to get them from the rocks, but gladly, some people are willing to do it.