Anemones Marine Biology
Sea and Tube Dwelling Anemones
Predatory filter feeding animals of stunning formations and colouration.
Sea Anemone
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Anthozoa
Sub Class: Hexacorallia
Order: Actiniaria
Family: Stichodactylidae
Sea Anemones have an adhesive foot which attaches to the substrate, rocks and coral blocks.
They are disc shaped with stinging tentacles used for deffence and capturing prey as it swims by.
Once captured food is pushed into the mouth located in the centre of the round body. Sea Anemones share a symbiotic relationship with Clownfish with both animals benifit from the other’s company.
The Clownfish keeps the Anemone clean in return for protection. Read more about Clownfish.
Most Sea Anemones spend their entire life in one place, although some species, for example the Heteractis magnifica, will change location. To view more images of Sea Anemones please visit our Anemone Field Guide.
Tube Dwelling Anemone
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Anthozoa
Sub Class: Zoantharia
Order: Ceriantharia
Family: Cerianthidae
Many Tube Anemones have glorious colouration, with stinging outer tentacles and inner tentacles that gather food to pass to the mouth.
Tube Anemones burrow into the soft substrate by expelling water from the vacuole and driving the pointed end down. Their tube like home can be up to three meters long and is coated with mucus to assisit in a rapid retreat if threatened.
They feed at night and, unlike their close relative the Sea Anemone, they have no relationships with Clownfish, symbiotic or otherwise.
In fact, Tube Anemones will happily eat Clownfish.
This species is often confused with Tube Worms, similar to the Sabellastarte magnifica.
However they are a completely different animal having absolutely no relationship to one another, in spite of looking incredibly similar.
For more information on Tube worms please visit our Flatworms and Tubeworms page.
