Sea Anemones
These "flowers of the sea" are named after the flower called "sea anemone" and come in many different colours and patterns. Although they look beautiful, small critters can't be fooled because sea anenomes are carnivores with tentacles that sting their prey!
CLASSIFICATION
Sea anemones are a group of marine animals that belong to the phylum Cnidaria, along with jellyfish and corals. They are classified in the class Anthozoa, which also includes other types of anemones and corals. There are over 1,000 species of sea anemones found in oceans worldwide.
DIET
They are carnivores that feed on small fish, plankton, and other marine invertebrates that they capture with their stinging tentacles. Their tentacles paralyze their prey and bring it to their mouth, which is located in the center of their oral disc. Some species have symbiotic relationships with other animals which provide them with food in exchange for protection.
BIOLOGY
Sea anemones have a cylindrical body with a central mouth surrounded by one or more rings of tentacles. They vary in size from a few millimeters to over a meter (whoa!) in diameter. Sea anemones have a simple nervous system and no brain, but they can still sense their environment and respond to stimuli - which is why they close up when touched. They can grow back lost body parts.
DISTRIBUTION
Sea anemones are found in oceans worldwide, from shallow tidal pools to the deep sea. They are more common in warm, tropical waters, but are also found in colder waters. Sea anemones are often attached to hard surfaces such as rocks, shells, or coral, but some species can also burrow into sand or mud.
LIFECYCLE
Sea anemones reproduce both sexually and asexually. Most species release eggs and sperm into the water, where they fertilize and develop into planktonic larvae before settling on the seafloor and developing into adult anemones. Some species can also reproduce asexually through budding, where new individuals grow from the base of the parent anemone.
FUN FACTS
Sea anemones are named after the flowers with the same name because of their colorful and flower-like appearance.
Some sea anemones are bioluminescent, meaning they can produce light through a chemical reaction in their bodies.
Some species of sea anemones are able to move around! Others are permanently attached to the seafloor.
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