Beadlet anemone

Actinia equina

The beadlet anemone is a common sea anemone found on rocky shores around all coasts of the British Isles. Its range extends to the rest of Western Europe and the Mediterranean Sea, and along the Atlantic coast of Africa as far south as South Africa.
Beadlet anemone - Actinia equina  Actinaria,Actinia equina,Actiniidae,Actinioidea,Aegean Sea,Animal,Animalia,Anthozoa,Beadlet anemone,Cnidaria,Europe,Geotagged,Greece,Nature,Summer,Wildlife

Appearance

Underwater, it displays up to 192 tentacles, arranged in six circles. Out of water, the tentacles retract and the anemone resembles a blob of red, brown, green or orange jelly, up to about 5 centimetres across. It has bright blue beads located just beneath the tentacles, organised as an external ring containing stinging cells located at the top of the column that it uses to fight over territory. The acrorhagi contains the cnidocysts which themselves contain the nematocysts. There is some evidence that the various colour forms may in fact be different species.

"Actinia equina" is similar in form to the Waratah anemone of Australia and New Zealand. It is also similar in form to the strawberry anemone but is a uniform colour and is typically rather smaller.
underwater Beadlet Anemone usually you see it closed. it's quite rare to see the tentacles. Actinia equina,Beadlet anemone,Geotagged,Israel,Winter

Habitat

"Actinia equina" can be found both in exposed and sheltered situations. It is highly adapted to the intertidal zone as it can tolerate both high temperatures and desiccation. The anemone may also be found in regions of variable salinity such as estuaries.
Red Beadlet Anemone showing its stinging cells These anemones are territorial, this one in a rock pool within Loch Torridon.  They have bright blue beads below their tentacles, which are packed with stinging cells called acrorhagithat.  The anemones use these to fight off other anemones to defend their territories. Actinia equina,Beadlet anemone,Loch Torridon,Red Point,Scotland,Wester Ross

Reproduction

"Actinia equina" is viviparous, with up to one hundred embryos developing inside the body cavity before being ejected into the open water as juveniles.

References:

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Taxonomy
KingdomAnimalia
DivisionCnidaria
ClassAnthozoa
OrderActiniaria
FamilyActiniidae
GenusActinia
SpeciesA. equina