Why do barnacles grow on some whales but not others?

Barnacles are filter feeders and they don't move once they become adults, so if they decide to attach to something, it really is a matter of life or death. read more

Barnacles are found in the intertidal zone of the ocean and some whales don't go there. There are some smaller whales that do go in the intertidal zone such as belugas, minkes and pilot whales. I can't say for sure why barnacles don't grow on them, but suspect it's because they swim faster and the barnacles are only able to grow on the slower-swimming whales. read more

Interestingly, some species of whale support barnacle growth (Grey whale), while others actually support lice growth (Right whale). So technically lice are the whale equivalent of lice. read more

Research on whale barnacles is scarce, according to Zardus, because they’re not the easiest beasts to get a hold of. The larvae are small and difficult to distinguish from other kinds of barnacle larvae, and the adults are so deeply embedded in the skin of their hosts that they have to be carved out, flesh and all. read more