Description

Also known as Carpet Anemone, Hexacoral, Merten's Carpet Sea Anemone, Merton's Sea Anemone, Spotted-base Carpet Anemone.

Found over coral and rocky substrates, of coral and rocky reefs. Playing host to 15 types of anemonefish. Colour varies, but always has orange spots underneath.
They feed on algae.
Width - 100cm
Depth - 1-20m
Widespread Indo-West Pacific

Host to 12 species of anemonefish.
Skunk Anemonefish - Amphiprion akallopisos - https://www.whatsthatfish.com/fish/skunk-anemonefish/2399
Barrier Reef Anemonefish - Amphiprion akindynos - https://www.whatsthatfish.com/fish/barrier-reef-anemonefish/1352
Twobar Anemonefish - Amphiprion allardi -
https://www.whatsthatfish.com/fish/twobar-anemonefish/3112
Twoband Anemonefish - Amphiprion bicinctus -
https://www.whatsthatfish.com/fish/twoband-anemonefish/1774
Mauritian Anemonefish - Amphiprion chrysogaster
Orange-finned Anemonefish - Amphiprion chrysopterus -
https://www.whatsthatfish.com/fish/orangefinned-anemonefish/1196
Clark's Anemonefish - Amphiprion clarkii -
https://www.whatsthatfish.com/fish/clarks-anemonefish/62
Saddle Anemonefish - Amphiprion ephippium
https://www.whatsthatfish.com/fish/saddle-anemonefish/3713
Seychelles Anemonefish - Amphiprion fuscocaudatus
Madagascar Anemonefish - Amphiprion latifasciatus
Whitebonnet Anemonefish - Amphiprion leucokranos
False Clown Anemonefish - Amphiprion ocellaris -
https://www.whatsthatfish.com/fish/false-clown-anemonefish/61
Saddleback Anemonefish - Amphiprion polymnus
https://www.whatsthatfish.com/fish/saddleback-anemonefish/65
Orange Anemonefish - Amphiprion sandaracinos
https://www.whatsthatfish.com/fish/orange-anemonefish/1113
Thiellei's Anemonefish - Amphiprion thiellei
Threeband Anemonefish - Amphiprion tricinctus

Can be distinguished from Stichodactyla haddoni by the orange spots on the body and the tentacles are not sticky.

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. (edit) Ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stichodactyla_mertensii