Barnacles Go To Unbelievable Lengths To Hook Up | Deep Look

Acorn barnacles might look like jagged little rocks at low tide, but they have a surprisingly wild sex life. These crusty little animals - related to crabs and shrimp - have the longest penis of any animal relative to their body size. It's up to eight times the length of the barnacle itself!
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DEEP LOOK is an ultra-HD (4K) short video series created by KQED San Francisco and presented by PBS Digital Studios. See the unseen at the very edge of our visible world. Explore big scientific mysteries by going incredibly small.
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When it comes to mating, acorn barnacles have a challenge. How do you find a date when you’re permanently stuck to a rock, pier or boat hull?
Fortunately for them, barnacles are packing the right equipment to get the job done. They have the longest penis of any animal relative to their body size.
But the barnacle’s male organ isn’t just impressive because of its length. It can smell and taste and the tip can feel around to find neighbors that have ripe ovaries inside.
“It is very clear that the barnacle’s penis is really much more of a sensory organ that also delivers sperm,” says Peter Raimondi, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of California, Santa Cruz.
--- What do barnacles eat?
Barnacles use their long feathery legs called cirri to strain plankton and debris right out of the water. Barnacles are often found in the intertidal zone where the waves churn up seaweed and carrion into small pieces that barnacles can eat.
--- How do barnacles attach to rocks?
Free-swimming mature barnacle larvae called cyprids attach themselves to rocks, piers, boat hulls and other underwater surfaces with a special cement that they excrete from glands between their antennae. The young barnacle then builds a ring of protective shell around itself.
--- What are barnacles related to?
From the outside, barnacles may look more like clams or mussels. But barnacles are actually crustaceans that are more closely related to shrimp and crabs.
---+ Find additional resources and a transcript on KQED Science:
www.kqed.org/science/1979151/...
---+ More great Deep Look episodes:
These Feisty Hermit Crabs Brawl Over Snail Shells | Deep Look
• These Feisty Hermit Cr...
Skeleton Shrimp Use 18 Appendages to Feed, Fight and ... Frolic | Deep Look
• Skeleton Shrimp Use 18...
Once a Spawn a Time: Horseshoe Crabs Mob the Beach | Deep Look
• Once a Spawn a Time: H...
---+ Shoutout!
🏆Congratulations🏆 to Kamea Webster on our Deep Look Community Tab for correctly answering our GIF challenge! The entire structure of the barnacle legs is called the cirral fan!
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[@3005lives4you]

Yeah, that lobster sent me here.

[@twotap4916]

Yup

[@thedoglovinggamer5825]

Who?

[@jonathansaindon788]

The pretty lobster

[@samsara2521]

Literally

[@thedoglovinggamer5825]

@@samsara2521 Who is the lobster?

[@trinomial-nomenclature]

I wish you would have mentioned how they get their "shell" because the little babies that look for a spot to anchor down didn't have a shell, then all of a sudden it did. I'm assuming they make their own shell rather than finding one, like hermit crabs, so it would have been nice to know how they make that incredibly hard and sharp, foot slicing shell.

[@paadoxal]

exactly, i'd love to know too

[@KQEDDeepLook]

They do make their own shell - that would have made a great episode all on it's own!

[@sturm3d]

@@KQEDDeepLook that would be lovely but probably most hard to shoot on cam?

[@micliebhart]

foot slicing shell😅

[@trinomial-nomenclature]

@@KQEDDeepLook Thank you for responding.

[@aichi_d3a1]

"Barnacius, we meet again!" "Have at you!" "En garde!" *proceeds to fertilize each other*

[@moonlalune8003]

dang these creatures...

[@dracodracarys2339]

barnacles are basically shrimp cosplaying as clams

[@KQEDDeepLook]

Not wrong, Not wrong at all.

[@edntz]

When barnacles get more action than you...

[@user-vu9xn3jh8y]

That’s rough

[@Funrono]

They don't have to buy dinner 😌

[@SeraphimKnight]

This has some heavy implications for Barnacle Boy and the Spongebob Squarepants fandom.

[@dariusdafigga]

you’re reaching

[@jml4000]

@1:46 "I'm hung like a barnacle." "You mean you're mostly sedentary and attached to one spot?" "No, that's not what I meant."

[@BIGWUNuvDbunch]

Deep look is so well produced: the subjects, the research, the music, the narration, and the cinematography are all so well thought out and executed. I'm glad I found you guys (5?) years ago and I'm super excited to see what you'll cover next!

[@KQEDDeepLook]

Much appreciated!

[@michaelreyes9997]

Narration is a little over the top, no need to make the subject sound interesting, if we’re watching we’re already Interested People like KZbin documentaries, so maybe less of the MSM style would go along way for information sake

[@tgnm9615]

A perfect opportunity to learn about barnacle. I never actually knew they actually have a body since they are in their shell all the time. Also, Congratulation for the 150th episode on KZbin Deep Look!

[@narwhallbean]

that moment when a barnacle has a better dating life than me

[@LuisSierra42]

@@narwhallbean yeah, well they play both sides and are not very selective

[@timothyestrada4549]

i thought they were plants..

[@donnaadom8483]

You mean plants like, the FBI, infiltrating the radicalized intersex community?😄😄😃😀😎

[@EnderGamerGirl]

@@timothyestrada4549 I did too

[@josevilla335]

I've been following this amazing channel for more than 2 years, and everytime it's even better! Amazing work from all the team at Deep Look!

[@KQEDDeepLook]

Wow, thank you!

[@donnaadom8483]

Ill second that! Big time science nerd with a HUGE interest in the magnified microscopic creepy crawliees

[@amentia]

Can I third that? hahahah

[@sagaryadav]

I fourth that! Amazing channel

[@arnavtete7793]

I fifth it!

[@Sssaaatttuuurrrnnn]

Wow, I had no idea they were crustaceans and had so many moving legs. That 3D segment at 1:28 did a fantastic job of getting that across -- I had stopped the video to go look for images of what it's like inside the shell but none were as good as when I kept watching.

[@fitt4393]

Yes

[@dracoaestas]

From a long-time fan, I love that this show gives careful attention to all the weird little critters around us. The diversity of our planet is stunning. Looking closely at the world around us is a skill we should all be nurturing.

[@thywiz]

Wow! usually animals like barnacles are overlooked as sea garbage but they are much more interesting than they look, great video!

[@KQEDDeepLook]

So true!

[@Vamp1re000]

I was gonna say true lol but deep look said it first

[@Ozymandias2x]

They can be interesting animals and still be sea garbage! Just ask anyone who's ever had to deal with barnacles damaging their ships' hulls. :V

[@mk_rexx]

Worse, they become the swear word for a certain cartoon sea sponge

[@LuisSierra42]

@@mk_rexx hahaha, spongebob is the only reason i know barnacles exist and didn't know what they looked like in real life until i saw this video

[@SomeGuy-qd3li]

I always love the amount of effort you guys put into shooting footage for each video!

[@raccoonchild]

Amazing... So that's what barnacles are. Never bothered learning about them before this video but they're so much weirder than I expected! Love from Argentina 🇦🇷

[@Currywurst4444]

Yeah, I thought they were more like plants and not this active.

[@bo-dine7971]

@@Currywurst4444 Same, I can't believe it's a "proper" animal.

[@crimsonfirelily]

I always thought Barnacles were really unique. I had never really seen how beautiful they are in the water. They are an interesting crustacean. Yes they hurt when you step on them but I am sure that's just their protection. Congratulations on 150 episodes!👏 🎉 I have learned so much and been fascinated by Deep Look for some time now. I look forward to 150 episodes + more! 💜✌

[@aashiffawnoon1510]

I have been watching this channel for more than 2 years from now. And I can see that the Deep Look team is very consistent in delivering amazing 🤩 content about the unknown world of animals...keep up your good work Deep Look!!!✨

[@willow95]

You guys are my favorite nature/animal channel. Learning about the easily missed life around us is wonderful

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I've been following this channel since 2019 and lemme tell you there was not a single episode where I got bored... thanks a lot deep look for enhancing our knowledge about nature in such an amazing way!!

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I absolutely love the content that you all create. As an engineer by trade, it makes me marvel how nature has developed over countless iterations and I would be lying if I said that I have not had an idea for a solution to a problem from listening to your videos while I work. Keep it up and to 150 more!

[@Luckmage26]

Congrats on the 150th episode, Deep Look! I've been watching your channel for a good while now, and I'm always amazed by how incredible your content is! Thank you, Deep Look team, for giving us one the best channels in this platform!

[@jaysondilao2129]

One of the best channels, very informative and fun to watch! Congrats on this milestone! Keep Looking Deeper!

[@KQEDDeepLook]

Thanks! Will do!

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I have been following for more than 4 years and watching this channel grow has been awesome!

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Hey you over there. No… WAYYYY over there 😏

[@KQEDDeepLook]

Not wrong, Joe ;->

[@nkc2666]

Congratulations on 150 videos, deep look! Keep going because we love what you’re doing

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150 episodes and still as awe-inducing and interesting as ever, these little snippets of knowledge on some of the things we usually don't pay much notice are worth their every 2 weeks of wait, without a doubt.

[@KQEDDeepLook]

Wow thanks!

[@Mekhel]

Congratulations on 150th episode! This channel helped me learn about different creatures I didn't even know existed. It's really amazing what you guys have been doing

[@DavidCruickshank]

Congrats on the 150 episodes. Been around since practically the start, keep making awesome content!

[@nathanielhutauruk197]

always love how you guys wrap the explanation. Congrats for the 150th episode! And congrats for us, viewers, who've found this channel!

[@KQEDDeepLook]

Thanks so much!

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I followed Deep Look for more than three years, to my knowledge. And it is amazing that they provided 150 entertaining and informative videos. Congratulations on the milestone!

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I've been watching for around 3 years! I love seeing a new Deep Look video in my subscriptions. You guys are awesome 🥰

[@aerictoremember03]

Barnacussy? Ok I’m down

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frfr

[@Machtyn]

I've been watching a long time. I'm constantly impressed with the camera work on such small creatures all of the time.

[@DannoWitwicky]

Congratulations on 150 episodes guys! Been a long time fan of the channel and it's always amazing to see how much detail and work that is put in to making these videos! Really appreciate all the knowledge you guys share with the world ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@KQEDDeepLook]

Thanks a ton, Danno!

[@Kashby281]

I've been following the channel for about 3-4 years I think. This channel has always been one of the most consistently excellent on KZbin, I love it. Keep doing you deep look!

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Been following this channel since I can’t remember. You’re a category of your own, and provide an unequaled level in terms of footage quality and entertainment. To many years of DeepLook !

[@dig7088]

It has been 4 years since I started watching this channel. Every time they upload I get excited like a child. Please keep making more videos like this. Also, Congrats on your 150th video on KZbin, Deep Look :)))

[@AhsanteB]

Congrats on episode 150! Fascinating as always :)

[@KQEDDeepLook]

Yay, thank you Ahsante! You've been with us on this journey for a long time!

[@TWiXnTRiX]

I started watching this channel since late 2017 and i’ve learned so much! i’m currently in school to become a veterinarian to take care of sheltered and endangered animals! :) thank you guys for being my prime motivation

[@KQEDDeepLook]

That's great to hear, my friend! #inspo

[@cliffffffffffffff]

I've also been following deep look since the early days and I really enjoy and love their videos. Happy 150th video, Deep look! Keep up the awesome job in entertaining us!

[@KQEDDeepLook]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@cliffffffffffffff]

@@KQEDDeepLook ❤️❤️❤️

[@dragondeeznutts]

God I hate barnacles so much

[@boringben9498]

this has always been one of my favorite nature channels!! thanks for another awesome video!! 😄 i love when you all explore marine life!

[@KQEDDeepLook]

Glad you enjoy it! Here is a playlist of all of our marine life episodes: kzbin.info/www/bejne/l5yVqaR-as1jj7s

[@morasoftwood8224]

Congrats to your 150 episode! I remember seeing the series first time on the owl flying episode. So glad you still operate!

[@miregojitohotookmyhandle]

This is a great addition to the PBS library. 2 years and you still make it interesting.

[@reionj8816]

150th episode, congrats guy 💯👏🏼👏🏼😁😊 y'all continue to put out the great content. Y'all will make me change my major you know 🤣🤣 with these videos.

[@KQEDDeepLook]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@TheAntlionGuard]

So uh... I guess the barnacles in Half-Life aren't grabbing you with a "tongue" after all

[@KQEDDeepLook]

Um....

[@oheybom]

UUH

[@idealsurrealism9587]

Oh, oh no...

[@waltuh2.3bviews3secondsago3]

Uh 😳

[@BlameItOnJoe]

I started watching these videos ~3 years ago to relax and fall asleep when stress from work gave me insomnia. Now I watch them when I'm bored at worked. We've come full circle and I'm so happy Deep Look has grown so much!

[@brycem4493]

I’ve been subscribed to this channel for well over a couple years and I’m always excited when a new episode comes out

[@derekgerig2272]

Congrats on 150 Episodes! I discovered your channel a while ago and completely appreciate the work that goes into these 4-6 minutes. The information, cinematography, brevity, narration, are all wonderfully top notch. Thank you for being one of the best channels on KZbin.

[@wuff8]

I love this channel! Very informative and learn wild things about nature. Thank you for the great contents!

[@mayseeyaj]

Congratulations on 150 episodes! I've been a subscriber since the Crow episode. My girls and I enjoy these short educational clips. Keep it up!

[@otakuman706]

Been watching for... years now. Congrats on flourishing. Keep up the interesting videos!

[@hahajedrigohbigl7061]

Hear me out…

[@derekj.abelin3282]

oh nah

[@waltuh2.3bviews3secondsago3]

🤨

[@theAquillo]

Amazing stuff as always Deep Look crew Congrats on 150 episodes! Some favourites include the Orchard Bee episode, and I still can’t believe Sea Urchins can live so long. CENTURIES!

[@crackers7788]

Deeplook always manage to amaze me! everytime i watch a video, i always go on the internet to search more about, just knowing that makes this channel a really worth shot for anyone. Waiting for more to come🤩!

[@Tokioka]

Congrats on the 150th episode deep look! 😃🎉🍾 Think I've been watching since 2018? Best animal documentary channel on youtube!

[@andrewmeline3857]

I've been watching for about 5 years now! Thanks for the great content!!!

[@KQEDDeepLook]

Wow, thanks! Any favorites!

[@andrewmeline3857]

My favorite is the singing jumping spider video from a couple years back. Honestly just love everyone!!

[@TheDKdoublekill]

Whelp I'm in a loss. I'm intrigued yet disturbed. Here I thought the snail episode was weird.

[@milansalmon2702]

Love love love your videos! Been watching for a long time now 😊

[@zeddez3342]

Wow 150 episodes. Congrats! I've seen every one of em 😆 Thank you to everyone at Deep Look for all the amazing videos

[@avoqado89]

It was illustrated but not said: barnacles glue their heads to the rock & live upside down the rest of their lives.

[@GreenSniper_YT]

When me and my friends hear a great song 1:19

[@Sjalabais]

One of my absolute favourite channels, and you keep delivering high quality footage with great learning scripts. Congrats on #150 and keep them coming!

[@KQEDDeepLook]

Thanks, will do!

[@ikramhakim6591]

This is my favorite documentary channel, been following up for 2 years now. I always gets excited when u guys release a video, keep it upp!!

[@NeilCrouse99]

1:59.. Is it wrong that mine does that too? In fact it talks to me subconsciously and makes me do things I wouldn't ordinarily do.... Like coming on to the local bar scank at the end of the night when it's hotel/motel time... Lol.

[@ironiccookies2320]

her: i bet he's cheating on me me and the boys: 2:40

[@shawntajames6738]

Thank YOU!!!! I love every single episode.

[@moorboor4977]

Thanks for so much neat content over the years! :)

[@mWadie]

Outstanding quality as usual from the Deep Look team! I personally don't like barnacles, the way they look and latch into things gives me the heepies! Also I've been around for almost more than two years now! :)

[@KQEDDeepLook]

Thanks for sharing!

[@asthaupadhyaya7745]

Your detailed videos are legit lit 😍😍👏👏 gaining so much knowledge from each one of them about every plant and animal in detail

[@KQEDDeepLook]

Thank you so much 😀

[@asthaupadhyaya7745]

@@KQEDDeepLook most welcome 😘

[@clipbaits7129]

gratz deeplook on your 150th episode. i have learned soooo much from this channel. been a subscriber/follower for as long as i can remember. also, when i have trouble sleeping, i play the fan favorite playlist. the soothing voice of lauren helps me sleep. i miss her voice tbh

[@KQEDDeepLook]

Awesome, thank you!

[@berniefrank]

I love this channel! Congrats on 150th episode!!

[@fern8276]

New favorite vid 😁🤩🤩❤️

[@Shabanezloth]

Not gonna lie, I'm happy my PP doesn't grow up to 8 times my body size. Highschool would have been a bit wierd.

[@dr.kalvalaakhilrajgupta6778]

I love you 3000 times dear Deep Look. Been a subscriber since 2 years, and the same amazing videos every time. Congratulations on your 150th episode. Keep going.

[@Tanabe18]

One of my very favorite channels, hope to see many episodes to come!

[@Bleb_It]

*Not the Barnussy* 0:58

[@DwayneRockTheJohnson]

Reported. I’m in this video and I don’t like it.

[@Pyxis10]

How the heck did you type this?

[@DwayneRockTheJohnson]

@@Pyxis10 gatekeeping

[@celinathehottie]

Congratulations Deep Look! I love your content and love how easy you make it to learn. My most loved video is probably the aphid video!! Also, great job Lesly with the narration - you give the same familiar, cozy deep look feel as Laura!

[@KQEDDeepLook]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@annediss8706]

Another fabulous episode. Thank you for making the wonders of life so accessible and visible!

[@saranarasauce542]

Congrats on 150! I've been here since the pygmy seahorses. It's been a pleasure watching y'all throughout the years!

[@KQEDDeepLook]

That was our very first episode, in 2014!

[@aquasight1019]

150 Episodes - WooHoo! And this Acorn Barnacle edition is a fantastic addition to the Deep Look library. Thanks and thumbs up again👍🤗

[@Guydude777]

I love how it looks like they're waving. Cute little fellas. Congrats on the milestone!

[@theminish8710]

Happy 150th episode! You guys make one of my favorite contents on KZbin, thank you.

[@piraco33]

Hard to believe it’s already 150 episodes! I’ve been watching since your very first episodes, I remember when your channel first started!

[@bryancienfuegos2914]

This is truly one of the most disgustingly grotesque things I’ve ever seen. Ocean life is truly something else, and I’m glad it’s underwater for me to never have to see lol

[@Raffa.210]

I was following Deep Look for almost 1 and a half years, first time I saw that made me love to watch Deep Look is I amazed, how they work .. time, energy , anything about that.. just for 3 or 4 minutes videos that is incredeblely umm wow.. and the improve of any videos time by time.. is getting better and better.. until I always waiting for new uploaded videos every weeks.. until now with this video , it's the upper video of any videos when I first open youtube and says " God, Deep Look have a new video"

[@Fullsunie28]

i remember thinking this channel is so underrated with less than a million subscribers few years ago. Just scrolling your channel now and got shocked that you guys are almost 2 million! So happy for you, the dedication and work that you are putting on your channel is amazing. Wish you all luck

[@nalalynn3337]

I love Deep Look! I've watched since the first video. Please keep them coming. Happy 150!

[@renieestampa1256]

Thank you Deeplook for sharing these amazing knowledge and discovery from the most likely disregarded looking normal creatures and plants in our planet. Looking forward to see more amazing videos in the future❤️❤️

[@marcelomesa2154]

I LOVE this channel. Thank you for this amazing content ❤️

[@ankanslittlemind]

I have been following Deep Look for 5 years. Still amazing and unique quality contents as before.

[@nuriaherreramarcos5999]

I love these videos. Thank you for posting them.😊

[@suganyamani8896]

This channel is always amazing.. their content is never disappointing..congrats for 150th episode..

[@LIZZARDWOLFE]

Been subbed to deep look for a while now! Congrats on 150 videos!

[@KQEDDeepLook]

Woo Hoo!

[@RK-kl3rc]

well that was uncomfortable

[@memeshahah9737]

Ive been with you guys for so long and every single video inspires me even more thank you.

[@miguelangel1129]

Love u guys. U are the only channel that I’ve decided to put the little bell on. Been following for more than a couple of years now!

[@shachar2]

been with you for a while now, love the 4k video macro shots

[@ruthvikrao8631]

Congratulations on the 150! Looking forward to 150K and more!