👉 The barn fluid, also known as barnacle fluid or cement, is a complex mixture secreted by certain marine crustaceans called barnacles. This fluid serves multiple crucial functions: it acts as a cement to bind the barnacle's hard shell (mantle) to surfaces like rocks, shells, and other hard substrates, ensuring stability in the often turbulent marine environment. It also facilitates the barnacle's attachment process and helps maintain its position, while providing a protective layer against desiccation, abrasion, and microbial invasion. This fluid composition is highly specialized, varying between species but generally including proteins, polysaccharides, and other organic compounds that contribute to its remarkable adhesive and protective properties.
