Goose barnacles, also known as gooseneck barnacles, are a stalked marine crustacean found worldwide in tropical and temperate oceans. They are often attached to floating objects like driftwood, boat hulls, marine debris, and even sea turtles.

These white shells combined with the dark peduncle are somewhat reminiscent of the barnacle goose (Branta leucopsis), which has a white belly and a black head and neck. However, the origin of the name lies not in physical resemblance but in medieval European folklore and reflects the once widespread belief that barnacle geese—whose nesting grounds were unknown to Europeans—actually developed from these barnacles.