noun
- A marine crustacean with a hard shell and feathery appendages used for feeding, such as a barnacle or goose barnacle.
Usage: Also spelled cirriped.; Zoology term; commonly encountered in marine biology.
Examples
- Cirripedes attach themselves to rocks and ship hulls in coastal waters.
- The cirripede uses its feathery legs to filter food from the water.
- Barnacles are the most familiar type of cirripede.
- Scientists study cirripedes to understand marine ecosystem health.
- A cirripede's shell protects it from predators and harsh ocean conditions.