Spengler, 1793
Description
Valves white or bluish on living specimens, translucent. Scutum almost triangular to quadrangular with prominent curved ridge from basal umbo and apex; secondary ventral area narrow; occludent margin convex. Scutum radially ridged, sometimes with strong spines: internal umbonal teeth sharp or knob-like; the one on the left scutum sometimes scarcely discernible. Tergum almost triangular, radially furrowed, with strong spines; in some specimens secondary ventral area rather narrow. Carina broad, but narrow above the fork, often strongly barbed. Narrow gaps between carina, terga, and scuta. Peduncle narrow, shorter than capitulum, brownish, often more yellowish near to capitulum.
Mouthparts and cirri lacking specific characters. Caudal appendage smooth, rounded and minute. Filamentary appendages, situated beneath cirrus I, not more than two on each side, generally one or none.
Hermaphrodite. Penis very spinose.
Remarks
L. pectinata shows some external resemblance to Lepas anserifera. Examination of the filaments distinguishes them, as L. pectinata has 0-2 filaments on each side of the body, L. anserifera 5-6.
Size
Capitulum up to 15 mm long.
Colour
Valves white or bluish.
Ecology
No information.
Depth range
Pelagic.
Distribution in the North Sea
Occasionally found on ships in Norway (Bergen, Rødøy at about 66°N), Denmark (Copenhagen), the Faeroes, and the southern North Sea.
World distribution
Common in tropical and subtropical seas, rare in temperate seas.
[After Nilsson-Cantell, 1978]