robertbaur
Info
Tugwell, 1856
Actinia fragacaea - The Beadlet Anemone
Description:
Actinia fragacaea is a vibrant sea anemone, notable for its bright red to purplish hues. The intensity of the color can vary.
It can grow up to 10 cm in size.
A key characteristic is its ability to contract strongly during low tide and adhere firmly to rocks, protecting itself from desiccation.
The tentacles are relatively short, and often, small, differently colored tips can be seen at the tentacle ends.
Habitat and Distribution:
Native to the Mediterranean Sea, Atlantic Ocean, and North Sea.
Its distribution extends from Norway to Africa, including the Azores, Canary Islands, and the British Isles.
It prefers coastal regions with rocky substrates and is found in the intertidal zone and shallow underwater areas, up to a depth of about 8 to 10 meters.
It lives in the benthos area, that is the sea floor area.
Lifestyle:
Actinia fragacaea is a sessile animal, attaching itself to rocks or other solid surfaces.
It feeds on small marine animals, which it captures with its tentacles.
It is a carnivore.
It is oviparous, meaning it reproduces by laying eggs.
Special Features:
The bright colors likely serve as camouflage or to attract prey.
Its ability to contract during low tide is a vital adaptation to life in the intertidal zone.
Classification: Biota > Animalia (Kingdom) > Cnidaria (Phylum) > Anthozoa (Class) > Hexacorallia (Subclass) > Actiniaria (Order) > Nynantheae (Suborder) > Thenaria (Infraorder) > Endomyaria (Superfamily) > Actiniidae (Family) > Actinia (Genus) > Actinia fragacea (Species)
Actinia fragacaea - The Beadlet Anemone
Description:
Actinia fragacaea is a vibrant sea anemone, notable for its bright red to purplish hues. The intensity of the color can vary.
It can grow up to 10 cm in size.
A key characteristic is its ability to contract strongly during low tide and adhere firmly to rocks, protecting itself from desiccation.
The tentacles are relatively short, and often, small, differently colored tips can be seen at the tentacle ends.
Habitat and Distribution:
Native to the Mediterranean Sea, Atlantic Ocean, and North Sea.
Its distribution extends from Norway to Africa, including the Azores, Canary Islands, and the British Isles.
It prefers coastal regions with rocky substrates and is found in the intertidal zone and shallow underwater areas, up to a depth of about 8 to 10 meters.
It lives in the benthos area, that is the sea floor area.
Lifestyle:
Actinia fragacaea is a sessile animal, attaching itself to rocks or other solid surfaces.
It feeds on small marine animals, which it captures with its tentacles.
It is a carnivore.
It is oviparous, meaning it reproduces by laying eggs.
Special Features:
The bright colors likely serve as camouflage or to attract prey.
Its ability to contract during low tide is a vital adaptation to life in the intertidal zone.
Classification: Biota > Animalia (Kingdom) > Cnidaria (Phylum) > Anthozoa (Class) > Hexacorallia (Subclass) > Actiniaria (Order) > Nynantheae (Suborder) > Thenaria (Infraorder) > Endomyaria (Superfamily) > Actiniidae (Family) > Actinia (Genus) > Actinia fragacea (Species)
