The adhesion of barnacles to sea turtles is a common example of a biological interaction known as epibiosis. This term describes one organism living on the surface of another living organism. In this case, barnacles, which are marine crustaceans, attach themselves to the shells, skin, and sometimes even the soft tissues of sea turtles.
This behavior provides significant advantages for the barnacles. By attaching to a mobile substrate, they gain access to a wider range of feeding opportunities. The constant movement of the turtle through different bodies of water increases the barnacles’ chances of encountering plankton, their primary food source. Moreover, this mode of attachment facilitates dispersal, allowing barnacles to colonize new areas far beyond their initial settlement location. Historically, this process has influenced the distribution and genetic diversity of certain barnacle species.
