Beaded Anemone (Heteractis aurora)

Also known as Adhesive Sea Anemone, Aurora Host Anemone, Beaded Sea Anemone, Carpet Anemone, Corn Anemone, Flat Anemone, Hexacoral, Ritteri Anemone, Saddle Tip Anemone, Sand Anemone, White-beaded Anemone

Description

Also known as Adhesive Sea Anemone, Aurora Host Anemone, Beaded Sea Anemone, Carpet Anemone, Corn Anemone, Flat Anemone, Hexacoral, Ritteri Anemone, Saddle Tip Anemone, Sand Anemone, White-beaded Anemone.

Found in areas of strong current amongst corals attaching themselves to a surface, and remain partially buried in sand and sediment, if threatened, they may retract entirely out of view into the substrate, found along rocky reef edges and slopes of reefs playing host to 7 types of anemonefish and their families.
They feed on fish fry, small invertebrates and zooplankton by catching them in their sticky, stinging tentacles.
Width - 30cm
Depth - 0-20m
Widespread Indo-West Pacific

Host to 7 species of anemonefish.

Sea Anemones are large solitary polyps which have no skeleton. They have a basal or pedal disc which helps them crawl and dig into place, for some, once in place it is virtually impossible to move. Other smaller anemones move around the reef to feed at night.
Most eat plankton, but they are capable of eating anything caught in their stinging tentacles including quite big fish.
The fringing tentacles are configured in six or multiples of six.
Some sea anemones have a symbiotic relationship with sea anemones and some live commensally with various crabs, shrimp and brittle stars. Ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heteractis_aurora

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