A selection of sea anemones, painted by Giacomo Merculiano, 1893
Scientific classification
Domain:
Eukaryota
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Cnidaria
Class:
Hexacorallia
Order:
Actiniaria Hertwig, 1882
Suborders
Enthemonae
Anenthemonae
Diversity
46 families
Sea anemones (/əˈnɛm.ə.ni/ə-NEM-ə-nee) are a group of predatory marine invertebrates constituting the order Actiniaria. Because of their colourful appearance, they are named after the Anemone, a terrestrial flowering plant. Sea anemones are classified in the phylum Cnidaria, class Anthozoa, subclass Hexacorallia. As cnidarians, sea anemones are related to corals, jellyfish, tube-dwelling anemones, and Hydra. Unlike jellyfish, sea anemones do not have a medusa stage in their life cycle.
A typical sea anemone is a single polyp attached to a hard surface by its base, but some species live in soft sediment, and a few float near the surface of the water. The polyp has a columnar trunk topped by an oral disc with a ring of tentacles and a central mouth. The tentacles can be retracted inside the body cavity or expanded to catch passing prey.[clarification needed] They are armed with cnidocytes (stinging cells). In many species, additional nourishment comes from a symbiotic relationship with single-celled dinoflagellates, with zooxanthellae, or with green algae, zoochlorellae, that live within the cells. Some species of sea anemone live in association with clownfish, hermit crabs, small fish, or other animals to their mutual benefit.
Sea anemones breed by liberating sperm and eggs through the mouth into the sea. The resulting fertilized eggs develop into planula larvae which, after being planktonic for a while, settle on the seabed and develop directly into juvenile polyps. Sea anemones also breed asexually, by breaking in half or into smaller pieces which regenerate into polyps. Sea anemones are sometimes kept in reef aquariums; the global trade in marine ornamentals for this purpose is expanding and threatens sea anemone populations in some localities, as the trade depends on collection from the wild.
Anemone, a terrestrial flowering plant. Seaanemones are classified in the phylum Cnidaria, class Anthozoa, subclass Hexacorallia. As cnidarians, sea...
genus Amphiprion. In the wild, they all form symbiotic mutualisms with seaanemones. Depending on the species, anemonefish are overall yellow, orange, or...
The starlet seaanemone (Nematostella vectensis) is a species of small seaanemone in the family Edwardsiidae native to the east coast of the United States...
Aseroe rubra, commonly known as the anemone stinkhorn, seaanemone fungus and starfish fungus, is a common and widespread basidiomycete fungus recognizable...
also known by the common names magnificent seaanemone or Ritteri anemone, is a species of seaanemone belonging to the Stichodactylidae family native...
The snakelocks anemone (Anemonia viridis) is a seaanemone found in the eastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. The latter population is however...
sebae anemone (Heteractis crispa), also known as leathery seaanemone, long tentacle anemone, or purple tip anemone, is a species of seaanemone belonging...
Actiniaria form an order of animals in the class Anthozoa that includes seaanemones. Rodriguez et al. proposed a new classification for the Actiniaria based...
The Venus flytrap seaanemone (Actinoscyphia aurelia) is a large seaanemone that superficially resembles a Venus flytrap. It closes its tentacles to capture...
The beadlet anemone (Actinia equina) is a common seaanemone found on rocky shores around all coasts of the British Isles. Its range extends to the rest...
Anthozoa is a class of marine invertebrates which includes the seaanemones, stony corals and soft corals. Adult anthozoans are almost all attached to...
Seaanemone neurotoxin is the name given to neurotoxins produced by seaanemones with related structure and function. Seaanemone neurotoxins can be divided...
tentacles of Ritteri seaanemones. The territorial fish protects the anemone from anemone-eating fish, and in turn, the anemone stinging tentacles protect...
Members of the genus Metridium, also known as plumose anemones, are seaanemones found mostly in the cooler waters of the northern Pacific and Atlantic...
Actinia fragacea, commonly known as the strawberry anemone, is a species of seaanemone of the order Actiniaria, that occurs from Norway to Africa, including...
tuediae, commonly known as the deeplet seaanemone, is a seaanemone found in the sublittoral zone of the North Sea. It was first discovered near Bewick...
Stichodactylidae is a family of seaanemones that contains the genera Stichodactyla (carpet anemones) and Heteractis. These seaanemones exclusively reside within...
Stichodactyla haddoni, commonly known as Haddon's seaanemone, is a species of seaanemone belonging to the family Stichodactylidae. It is found in the...
organisms. The presence of this cell defines the phylum Cnidaria (corals, seaanemones, hydrae, jellyfish, etc.). Cnidae are used to capture prey and as a defense...
Seaanemone dermatitis is a cutaneous condition similar to jellyfish and hydroid dermatitis, caused by contact with certain seaanemones.: 430 Skin lesion...
Actinodendron arboreum, commonly known as tree anemone or hell's fire anemone, is a species of seaanemone in the family Actinodendronidae. It is native...
Actinia tenebrosa, commonly known as the waratah anemone, is the most common species of seaanemone found in the waters of eastern Australia and New Zealand...
include green surf anemone, giant green seaanemone, green anemone, giant tidepool anemone, anemone, and rough anemone. The column width and height can reach...
re-attaching the seaanemone. Most hermit crabs attempt to place the most anemones as possible, while some others steal the anemone another hermit crab...
The aggregating anemone (Anthopleura elegantissima), or clonal anemone, is the most abundant species of seaanemone found on rocky, tide swept shores...
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