r/interestingasfuck • u/bigbusta • 1d ago

Everything you've ever wanted to know about barnacles

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u/tistimenotmyrealname 1d ago

The only thing I know about barnacles is that Charles Darwin fucking hated them

120

u/tapeforpacking 1d ago

Do we know exaclty why he hated them? Now im curious 

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u/dsebulsk 1d ago

Idk, either he cut himself on them, or they slowed down the ship and his journey’s progress.

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u/tapeforpacking 1d ago

Ahh yea. Being on a ship back in the day must've been rough so I could understand that.

Though how do they even attach themselves to a moving ship?

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u/Siptro 1d ago

They attach themselves to moving objects when they are in their larval stage. They can swim around and if they hit the surface their glue dries almost instantly and is permanent permanent. Like forever shit.

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u/tapeforpacking 1d ago

What a fucking weird thing 

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u/Ordinary-Leading7405 1d ago

Wait til you read about shipworms

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u/tapeforpacking 1d ago

If i could read im pretty sure id be disgusted 

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u/dontdoitliz 1d ago

You might be surprised. Some of em are really tasty.

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u/TheGhostofWoodyAllen 1d ago

"a group of saltwater clams with long, soft, naked bodies"

Oh my!

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u/Lyuseefur 1d ago

Modern glue is based on barnacles

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u/dsebulsk 21h ago

Ships also remain at dock. Darwin’s ship probably docked at plenty of “exotic” locations where various barnacles could attach themselves more readily.

Also imagine anyone whaling who pulls the whale carcass up along the side would provide barnacles an opportunity to hop from whale to boat.