Loocks like Fissurella, a mollusk not a barnacle
http://z14.invisionfree.com/Conchologist_Forum/ar/t2252.htm
Thanks for your answer, I'm check it, but i sure my picture is barnacle of family pyrgomatide, because this is an erosive barnacle that bore hard coral reefs.
If it is a pyrgomatid barnacle, try the key to genera on the Florida Museum webpage. You will need the opercular valves though, not just the wall: http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/Malacology/pyrgomatidae/index.html
Dear Ian
Thank you for your answer, but my problem is that barnacles were dead and i only have access to the outer layer. I attach another of my picture
Maybe I am wrong, but it looks like one opercular valve is lying on top of a capitulum in the second picture (the capitulum immediately at the left of the one at center). It is the small white triangle-shaped object with its sharpest point directed upward. However, it might instead be a reflection only.
Even if the barnacles are dead, there is a good chance of finding some of these opercular valves inside the barnacle cavities when you break the coral. Just be careful and do the breaking in a pan or some other container where small pieces will not fall away, then wash the cavities in the pan, collect the small fragments and go through them with a stereomicroscope. It should not be difficult to distinguish these valves from coral fragments.
I agree these are pyrgomatid barnacles, but if this sample is from the Indian Ocean it is not likely that the key of Florida species will be useful. I found plenty of very similar barnacles in the Philippines but I know nothing of their taxonomy below family-level.
I discussed the adaptative significance of their capitulum in: Savazzi, E. 1999: A few case histories for cirripeds. In: Savazzi, E. (ed.): Functional morphology of the invertebrate skeleton, 529-535; John Wiley & Sons, Chichester.
Perhaps the following can help for identification: Rosell N.C. 1986. Barnacles. In: Guide to Philippine flora and fauna, 7: 79-164. Natural Resources Management Center and University of the Philippines.
Dr. Savazzi
I thank you for giving a full explanation.
About small white triangle-shaped object, i have to say, You've had a very precise vision.
I do not remember now what it was, but I'm also think probably not anything special, maybe a piece of aluminum foil.
About finding opercular valves, with the same accuracy that you mentioned i will do it.
I attach another picture of this barnacle, and thank you again.
Enrico Savazzi: "Not likely that the key of Florida species will be useful": The key provided is to "genera", hosted by the Florida Museum. It contains 16 of the 22 genera globally. It is not a key of "Florida species". Also, there was no statement by Mohammad about where these samples were collected.
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