Facts About The Sea Anemones

There are over one thousand species of sea anemone. Anthozoa actiniaria, is their genius and species name. They are a predator animal believe it or not, in the phylum Cnidaria. They are related to corals, jellyfish, and hydra. Sea anemone attack to coral or a reef by their Pedal disk. They are able to move, but usually do not. If they do it is mostly because a sea anemone lost a fight to another sea anemone. Yes! Sea anemones fight! They usually fight if they are too close to each other or if one sea anemone wants another’s spot. They have special tentacles used just for fighting. The tentacles called pnumatosists that aren’t used for fighting are used for stinging and stunning prey so that it can stuff it into its mouth. Now you might be thinking right now, “how do clownfish not get stung?” Clownfish make a mucus that somehow tricks the anemone into thinking that they are not there. The anemone then does not try to eat the clownfish and the clownfish gets a protected home. Other animals use anemones as cover too. A hermit crab detaches a small anemone at the pedal disk from where it sits. It then reattaches it to its own shell. This keeps big fish from coming over and eating the hermit crab. Instead it gets a mouthful of stinging anemones. Sea anemones come in all shapes and sizes and in various colors too. They are a great addition to the ocean. They light up the reef and keep the divers coming back. All in all, the anemone is a beautiful creation by God and deserves the interest of scientists.