Goose Barnacles on Seals and a Penguin at Gough Island

A rare observation of goose barnacles (Lepas australis) attached to marine mammals and a penguin at Gough Island was documented during a seal survey in September–October 2009. The study recorded these parasitic crustaceans on two elephant seals (Mirounga leonina), one vagrant Antarctic fur seal (Arctocephalus gazella) among resident Subantarctic fur seals (A. tropicalis), and a Northern rockhopper penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome moseleyi). This finding highlights the presence of goose barnacles on multiple species, including a first report for this penguin subspecies at Gough Island. The survey involved inspecting 19 seals and one penguin, providing novel insights into interspecies interactions and parasite distribution in this remote Subantarctic ecosystem.

Reisinger, R. R., & Bester, M. N. (2010). Goose barnacles on seals and a penguin at Gough Island. African Zoology, 45(1), 129–132. https://doi.org/10.1080/15627020.2010.11657262