Lepadomorpha

(invertebrate zoology) A suborder of barnacles in the order Thoracica having a peduncle and a capitulum which is usually protected by calcareous plates.

A suborder of the Thoracica. These barnacles have a stalk or peduncle, which morphologically is the elongated, anterior, preoral region of the body, and a capitulum comprising the bivalved mantle enclosing the rest of the body (see illustration). The mantle folds are usually protected by a varying number of calcareous plates. The peduncle also may be protected by small calcareous scales or granules. Caudal furca and filamentary appendages are often present. These barnacles are hermaphroditic, or with separate sexes.

Morphology of Octolasmis lowei.

Several families are distinguished, the most primitive being Scalpellidae.