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Quentin Williams
Marine Biology Sea Anemone
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Mrs. Gladen
ANEMONE

The ornately colored sea anemone (uh-NEM-uh-nee) is named after the
equally flashy terrestrial anemone flower. A close relative of coral and jellyfish,
anemones are stinging polyps that spend most of their time attached to rocks
on the sea bottom or on coral reefs waiting for fish to pass close enough to get
ensnared in their venom-filled tentacles.

Their bodies are composed of an adhesive pedal disc, or foot, a cylindrical
body, and an array of tentacles surrounding a central mouth. The tentacles are
triggered by the slightest touch, firing a harpoon-like filament into their victim
and injecting a paralyzing neurotoxin. The helpless prey is then guided into the
mouth by the tentacles.

There are more than 1,000 sea anemone species found throughout the world’s
oceans at various depths, although the largest and most varied occur in coastal
tropical waters. They run the full spectrum of colors and can be as small as half
an inch (1.25 centimeters) or as large as 6 feet (1.8 meters) across.

Some anemones, like their coral cousins, establish symbiotic relationships with
green algae. In exchange for providing the algae safe harbor and exposure to
sunlight, the anemone receives oxygen and sugar, the bi-products of the
algae's photosynthesis.

They form another, more famous symbiotic alliance with clownfish, which are
protected by a mucus layer that makes them immune to the anemone's sting.
Clownfish live within the anemone’s tentacles, getting protection from
predators, and the anemone snacks on the scraps from the clownfish’s meals.
Although Sea Anemones look like flowers, they are predatory
animals. These invertebrates have no skeleton at all. They live
attached to firm objects in the seas, usually the sea floor, rock, or
coral, but they can slide around very slowly. Sea anemones are
very long lived. Hermit crabs sometimes attach sea anemones to
their shells for camouflage.
Habitat and Distribution:
 There are over 1000 species of anemones found in
costal waters worldwide, in shallow waters (including
coral reefs), and in deep oceans
 Sea Anemones that live in shallow coastal waters
tend to attach to rocks and other surfaces
Sea Anemones come in many shapes, sizes, and colors. Radialy
symmetric, they have a columnar body with a single body opening, the
mouth, which is surrounded by tentacles. The tentacles protect the
anemone and catch its food; they are studded with microscopic stinging
capsules. Sea Anemones are usually about 1 to 4 inches (2.5-10 cm)
across, but a few grow to be 6 feet (1.8 m) across.
Diet:
Sea Anemones are carnivores that eat fish, mussels, zooplankton (like
copepods, other small crustaceans, and tiny marine larvae), and worms.
They catch food using the tentacles, which have poisonous stingers
(called nematocysts).
The sea anemone can attach itself to rocks or coral. In the center of the sea
anemone is their mouth. In order for the sea anemone to eat, they must
wait for their food to swim by. Then they sting it with their tentacles, and
then push it into their mouth.
Sea anemones spend most
of their lives in one place.
Some even bury themselves
in the mud.
Predators: Sea Anemones are eaten
By very few animals. Their predators
include the Grey Sea Slug and the
Tromped Blenny.
Clown fish always live near anemones; they are immune from (and protected by)
the stinging tentacles. The clown fish help the anemone by cleaning the tentacles
(as the fish eat detritus) and perhaps by scaring away predators.
Status and Threats:
None of our sea anemones are listed among the endangered animals of
Singapore. However, like other animals harvested for the live aquarium trade,
most die before they can reach the retailers. Without professional care, most
die soon after they are sold. Those that do survive are unlikely to breed
successfully. Like other creatures of the intertidal zone, they are affected by
human activities such as reclamation and pollution. Trampling by careless
visitors, and over-collection also have an impact on local populations.
Anemone Friends:
Some anemones may live with other animals such as hermit crabs and living
snails. Other animals have adapted to live among the tentacles of sea
anemones. The Anemonefish (Amphiprion sp.) is coated with mucus that
does not trigger off the host sea anemone's stingers. Other creatures that
also make their homes in sea anemones include anemone shrimps
(Periclimenes sp.).
Bibliography
http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/cnidaria/actiniaria/actiniaria.ht
m
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/invertebrates/seaanemone.html
http://www.seasky.org/reeflife/sea2b.html
Scientific Classification
Kingdom - Animalia - Phylum - Coelenterata - Class – Anthozoa –
Order – Actiniaria Genus - Actinia Fragacea - Species - Metridium