This is the largest (non-stalked) barnacle in Australia, and is often found in high-energy environments near the low tide mark, including high up on jetty pylons, or vertical reef walls. This species is distinctive for the fact that it is often much higher than it is wide. Its six plates are a uniform white to grey, and have fine vertical ridges, while on the radius (the sunken part in between each plate) the ridges are horizontal.