WHATSTHATFISH
Corals & anemones

Hemprich's Anemone

Heterodactyla hemprichii

Also known as: Hexacoral, Heterodactyla hemprichi

Adult
@blogie · Coral Gardens, Talicud Island, Island Garden City of Samal, Philippines · December 20111 / 1
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Overview

Found singly, inside cracks or attached to hard surfaces, over shallow coastal reefs. Colour varies in different shades of green.

This anemone is usually partnered with Periclimenes shrimps and not with any clown fish.

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.

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How to identify

Behaviour
solitary

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-Pacific
  • Country only · 1
LIVES IN

Found singly, inside cracks or attached to hard surfaces, over shallow coastal reefs.

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Adult photos 1

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Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumCnidaria
    3. classHexacorallia
    4. orderActiniaria
    5. familyThalassianthidae
    6. genusHeterodactyla
    7. speciesHeterodactyla hemprichii Ehrenberg, 1834

    SourcesWoRMSWikipedia

    06

    More in the family

    Actiniaria