Description
Also known as Dahlia Sea Anemone, Feline Dahlia Anemone, Hexacoral, Northern Red Anemone.
Found singly or in colonies, attached to rocks on the seabed, over coral and rocky reefs. Colour varies.
They feed on crustaceans and small fish by firing groups of stinging cells at their prey.
Width - 12cm
Depth - 0-100m
Widespread Arctic Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Baltic Sea, North Sea
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/Dahlia_anemone
1 comment
Posted by AnnI believe I saw one of these at low tide in Cape Cod Bay (Massachusetts) on the tidal flats. Do they have a wide range?