The Barnacle is a small crustacean that sticks firmly to rocks, shells, and even boats in rockpools. It looks like a tiny cone or volcano with hard plates that protect its soft body inside. Barnacles feed by sticking out feathery legs to catch plankton and tiny food particles from the water. They don’t move around—they stay stuck in one place their whole lives. Barnacles are important because they filter the water and provide food for animals like fish and birds. They also help create homes for other small creatures by adding to the rough surface of rocks.