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Why do Whales Have Whale Barnacles?

What are those funny crusty objects found on whales? And do all whales have them, or only humpbacks?

The relationship between whales and the barnacles that grow on them is called commensalism, the barnacle benefits from an interaction while the whale is unaffected

Barnacles attach themselves to whales as free-swimming larva and as the whale grows the barnacle clusters also grow until they form colonies which are the white patches you spot on their head, flippers, back and tail. A whale carries approximately 500kg of barnacles.

The barnacle species on whales are usually unique to the type of whale they colonised, the barnacle Coronula diadema is only found on humpbacks. They fed by sticking their feet out and catching plankton that floats by when the whale is feeding.

It is thought that whales may try to get rid of the barnacles by rubbing themselves up against objects or even breaching, no one really knows.

Will you see barnacles on your next whale watching tour in Noosa?

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Whale Watching

Dolphin Tours

Get a taste of Noosa’s thriving marine life from the water, soak up spectacular scenery and iconic sights with a stunning dolphin cruise that can only be truly appreciated from the ocean.

Get up close and personal with the playful dolphins that frolic along the coast.

Ocean Adventure Tour

The Oceanrider Ocean Adventure Tour is a faster-paced, thrilling speed boat experience that starts at the Noosa Marina with a cruise down the Noosa River and crossing the Noosa Bar, where the river meets the sea at Laguna Bay. With exhilarating tighter turns and the manoeuvring capabilities of the high-performance Gemini RIB that is Oceanrider while encountering and negotiating ocean swells and waves. Noosa’s original & best ocean adventure thrill!

Whale Watching

Whale watching is one of Noosa’s most breathtaking experiences on the Sunshine Coast. There is nothing more magical than watching these amazing creatures in their natural habitat. Noosa’s aquatic backyard plays host to the humpback whales during their annual migration every winter (the whale-watching season is July – November) where you can watch them frolic and play whilst taking in stunning natural cliff formations, lush emerald forests, pristine little coves and sweeping beaches.