WHATSTHATFISH
Corals & anemones

Cloak Anemone

Calliactis palliata

Also known as: European Sea Anemone, Hermit Crab Anemone, Hexacoral, Adamsia palliata

Adult
@JarJar · GR, Greece · April 20141 / 1
01

Overview

Found on sand and stone bottoms of coral and rocky reefs.

Usually found on the hermit crab Pagurus prideaux.
When Hermit crabs need to change their shells, they do so at night and at the same time move their anemones from their old homes to the new!

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.

02

How to identify

Body shape
tentacles

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Atlantic Ocean, North Sea, Mediterranean
  • Country only · 1
LIVES IN

Found on sand and stone bottoms of coral and rocky reefs.

04

Adult photos 1

05

Discussion 1

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1 comment

  • fishx6Top Contributor· 5 Aug 2014

    Your critter has been named, check it out in your gallery!

    Helpful
ALL STAGES
FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

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Taxonomy

  1. kingdomAnimalia
  2. phylumCnidaria
  3. classHexacorallia
  4. orderActiniaria
  5. familyHormathiidae
  6. genusCalliactis
  7. speciesCalliactis palliata (Müller, 1776)

SourcesWoRMSWikipedia

06

More in the family

Actiniaria