Description

Also known as Branching Anemone, Branching Tube Anemone, Haeckel's Anemone, Haeckel's Sand Anemone, Hexacoral, Sea Snake Anemone, Snake Arm Anemone, Snake Sea Anemone.

Found anchored to the sandy substrate, of shallow coral and rocky shorelines. Varies in colour.
They feed nocturnally on plankton.
Width - 20cm
Depth - 0-9m
Widespread Western Pacific



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: x