WHATSTHATFISH
Corals & anemones

Strawberry Anemone

Actinia fragacea

Also known as: Beadlet Anemone, Hexacoral, Strawberry Beadlet Anemone

Adult
@LaurenD123 · Aberystwyth Beach, United Kingdom · May 20191 / 4
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Overview

Found singly, or in colonies, attached to boulders and rocks, sometimes partially covered in gravel, or half buried in the sand, over shallow, shady, coastal shorelines. In the winter these anemones migrate off-shore to prevent freezing.
Widespread North Atlantic, Mediterranean

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

Body shape
warts
Behaviour
solitary

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

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Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Northwest Atlantic, Northeast Atlantic, Mediterranean
  • Exact location · 4
LIVES IN

Found singly, or in colonies, attached to boulders and rocks, sometimes partially covered in gravel, or half buried in the sand, over shallow, shady, coastal shorelines.

04

Adult photos 4

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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. familyActiniidae
    6. genusActinia
    7. speciesActinia fragacea Tugwell, 1856

    SourcesWoRMSWikipedia

    06

    More in the family

    Sea Anemones (Actiniidae)