The carapace of this species is conical with a circular base which has an irregular edge and a diameter of up to three centimeters.

[2] This species is found at depths of up to 150 metres (490 ft),[3] commonly between 20 -- 30 meters [4] and grows on bedrock, boulders, pebbles and shells.

[5] It seems to favor habitats with strong currents and when overcrowding occurs, adopts different shapes to fit the space available.

The newly metamorphosed cyprid develops slowly reaching 1 millimetre (0.039 in) diameter in a few weeks and 7 mm (0.28 in) by September.

There is a wide variation in rate of growth and the factors affecting it include currents and nutrient content.

Fertilisation takes place over the course of a few days in each group of barnacles and the fertilized eggs change to an orange colour and then to a greyish-brown as the nauplii develop.

New ovaries begin to form soon after fertilization, and the testes re-develop during the summer with the size of the penis being reduced.