Menesiniella aquila explained

Menesiniella aquila is a species of acorn barnacle in the family Balanidae. It is found off the California coast from San Francisco to San Diego from the bottom of the intertidal zone down to depths of 18 m.^[1] It is preyed upon by fish, sea stars, and certain carnivorous snails. Fish also rub against the barnacles to clean themselves of parasites, which wears the barnacles shells to a smooth surface.^[2]

This species was formerly a member of the genus Balanus.

Notes and References

1. Book: The Purisima Formation and related rocks (Upper Miocene – Pliocene), Greater San Francisco Bay Area, Central California: review of literature and USGS collection (now housed at the Museum of Paleontology, University of California, Berkeley) . Charles L. Powell, II . . 1998.
2. Web site: Balanus aquila Pilsbry, 1907—acorn barnacle . State of California, Department of Fish and Game. Charles H. Turner, Earl E. Ebert & Robert R. Given . 1969 . Fish Bulletin 146: Man-Made Reef Ecology.