It occurs on the east coast of North America, the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico.

It has a diamond-shaped operculum protected by a hinged lid formed from two triangular halves each consisting of two plates, a tergum and a scutum.

Another similar species is the striped barnacle (Balanus amphitrite) but that has vertical pink lines on the test.

[3] It is found, sometimes in great numbers, from low tide mark to depths of 37 m (121 ft) attached to hard surfaces including rocks, mollusc shells, pilings, jetties and other man-made structures, ships' hulls and the roots of the red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle).

They search out sites for settlement, possibly following chemical cues from already established adults or testing the substrate for suitability.