Austromegabalanus psittacus, the giant barnacle or picoroco as it is known in Spanish, is a species of large barnacle native to the coasts of southern Peru, all of Chile and southern Argentina. It inhabits the littoral and intertidal zones of rocky shores and normally grows up to 30 centimetres (12 in) tall with a mineralized shell composed of calcite. The picoroco barnacle is used in Chilean cuisine and is one of the ingredients in curanto.
From Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Is it venomous or poisonous?
We have no record of Giant Barnacle being toxic, poisonous or venomous. That is not proof that it is safe. Never eat, touch or handle a wild plant, mushroom or animal on the strength of an identification; ask someone qualified.
Easily confused with
- Austromegabalanus nigrescens
- Balanus nubilus
- Perforatus perforatus
- Balanus laevis
- Notomegabalanus decorus
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Hexanauplia
- Order
- Balanomorpha
- Family
- Balanidae
- Genus
- Austromegabalanus
- Species
- Austromegabalanus psittacus
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