WHATSTHATFISH
Corals & anemones

Gorgonian Wrapper

Nemanthus annamensis

Also known as: Colonial Anemone, Colonising Anemone, Communal Anemone, Coral Anemone, Gorgonian Wrapper Colonial Anemone, Hexacoral, Parasitic Anemone, Tiger Anemone, Venus Flytrap Sea Anemone, Whip Anemone, Zebra-striped Gorgonian Wrapper

Adult
@blogie · Mushroom Rock Dive Site, Island Garden City of Samal, Philippines · November 20111 / 2
01

Overview

Found in colonies, often creating a carpet effect, wrapped around dead skeletons of gorgonians, (hence the name) black corals and sea whips, over coral and rocky reefs.
They lay flat during the day and show their tentacles at night when feeding.

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
flowers

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-Pacific
  • Country only · 2
LIVES IN

Found in colonies, often creating a carpet effect, wrapped around dead skeletons of gorgonians, (hence the name) black corals and sea whips, over coral and rocky reefs.

04

Adult photos 2

05

Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumCnidaria
    3. classHexacorallia
    4. orderActiniaria
    5. familyNemanthidae
    6. genusNemanthus
    7. speciesNemanthus annamensis Carlgren, 1943

    SourcesWoRMSWikipedia

    06

    More in the family

    Actiniaria