Aggregating Anemone
Anthopleura elegantissima
Aggregating anemones are incredibly hardy animals that can reproduce two different ways, sexually and asexually (cloning themselves). In addition to eating zooplankton, they can produce food by hosting two different types of algae inside of them at the same time.These animals have multiple survival characteristics and can survive a range of temperature and light conditions thanks to their interesting adaptations.
Credit: Ed Bierman under CC 2.0
SPECIES IN DETAIL
Aggregating Anemone
Anthopleura elegantissima
CONSERVATION STATUS: Safe for Now
CLIMATE CHANGE: Not Applicable
At the Aquarium
Coastal Corner Touch Lab
Geographic Distribution
Alaska to Baja California
Habitat
These Pacific Ocean animals are found in a rocky mid-intertidal zone. They can be exposed to air for brief periods of time during low tide. During this time, they can close their tentacles, preserving water in their bodies. Due to the symbiotic microalgae that hosts in their bodies, they live in the shallow part of the ocean in order to provide sunlight for the microalgae. Aggregating anemones can live in dark places, such as crevices, and solely exist as filter feeders catching food with their tentacles.
Physical Characteristics
The anemone’s column can range from white, brown or green in color. The difference in color is dependent on which type or types of symbiotic algae the anemone may be hosting.
The oral disk may be green or brown in color with white, pink, blue or lavender tipped tentacles.They also have special white “attack” tentacles that come out during territory disputes with other anemones.
Size
Individual anemones can have a column height of up to 6 centimeters (2.3 inches) and a width of 3-8 centimeters (1-3 inches), depending on if their disk is expanded.
Aggregating anemones can reach densities of up to 500 individuals per meter (3 feet).
Diet
Aggregating anemones host two different types of symbiotic microalgae in their tentacles, disk and body: dinoflagellate (zooxanthellae) and chlorophyte (zoochlorellae). These microalgae help provide food to the anemone in return for being kept safe.
Aggregating anemones also eat barnacle molts, plankton, and mussels that may fall onto the colony.
At the Aquarium of the Pacific, aggregating anemones may be fed bits of shrimp, clam and fish.
They are preyed upon by mosshead sculpins, sea stars, sea slugs and some types of snails.
Reproduction
Aggregating anemones can reproduce both asexually and sexually.
For sexual reproduction, they release their eggs and sperm into the water, which then merge and form into planktonic larvae that will settle down to a surface and become an anemone.
For asexual reproduction, the anemone splits itself in half and becomes two anemones and is more common during the fall and winter months.This behavior leads to a large colony of anemones.
Behavior
Aggregating anemones attach small rocks, shell bits and other debris to the outer surface of their trunks. When they are feeding, defending themselves, or exposed to air, they will curl in their tentacles, covering most of their body, and only leaving the outer layer of rocks and debris exposed. This can help serve as a sunscreen and protect them from drying out when exposed to air during low tides. The small rocks and debris also help to camouflage the anemones within the intertidal zone.
Aggregating anemone clone colonies are incredibly territorial against other aggregating anemone colonies. They will engage in “clone wars” and sting each other with white fighting tentacles. These wars often end with an empty ‘neutral territory’ between the two colonies.
Adaptation
Aggregating anemones are able to handle a wide range of temperatures, although higher temperatures may harm the symbiotic algae living in the body. They also thrive with an increase in carbon dioxide and are well suited to adjust to climate change.
Longevity
Given stable conditions, aggregating anemones can technically be ‘immortal’, especially if you take into account the fact that they can clone themselves.
Conservation
No conservation at this time. Aggregating anemones are incredibly hardy and can thrive with a large variation of temperature and carbon dioxide levels.
Special Notes
Aggregating anemones clone themselves into large colonies. These colonies will fight with other colonies that encroach on their territory by stinging them with their tentacles. This will result in a ‘neutral zone’ between the two colonies.
Aggregating anemones are being reviewed by scientists to help make anti cancer drugs.
SPECIES IN DETAIL | Print full entry
Aggregating Anemone
Anthopleura elegantissima
CONSERVATION STATUS: Safe for Now
CLIMATE CHANGE: Not Applicable
Coastal Corner Touch Lab
Alaska to Baja California
These Pacific Ocean animals are found in a rocky mid-intertidal zone. They can be exposed to air for brief periods of time during low tide. During this time, they can close their tentacles, preserving water in their bodies. Due to the symbiotic microalgae that hosts in their bodies, they live in the shallow part of the ocean in order to provide sunlight for the microalgae. Aggregating anemones can live in dark places, such as crevices, and solely exist as filter feeders catching food with their tentacles.
The anemone’s column can range from white, brown or green in color. The difference in color is dependent on which type or types of symbiotic algae the anemone may be hosting.
The oral disk may be green or brown in color with white, pink, blue or lavender tipped tentacles.They also have special white “attack” tentacles that come out during territory disputes with other anemones.
Individual anemones can have a column height of up to 6 centimeters (2.3 inches) and a width of 3-8 centimeters (1-3 inches), depending on if their disk is expanded.
Aggregating anemones can reach densities of up to 500 individuals per meter (3 feet).
Aggregating anemones host two different types of symbiotic microalgae in their tentacles, disk and body: dinoflagellate (zooxanthellae) and chlorophyte (zoochlorellae). These microalgae help provide food to the anemone in return for being kept safe.
Aggregating anemones also eat barnacle molts, plankton, and mussels that may fall onto the colony.
At the Aquarium of the Pacific, aggregating anemones may be fed bits of shrimp, clam and fish.
They are preyed upon by mosshead sculpins, sea stars, sea slugs and some types of snails.
Aggregating anemones can reproduce both asexually and sexually.
For sexual reproduction, they release their eggs and sperm into the water, which then merge and form into planktonic larvae that will settle down to a surface and become an anemone.
For asexual reproduction, the anemone splits itself in half and becomes two anemones and is more common during the fall and winter months.This behavior leads to a large colony of anemones.
Aggregating anemones attach small rocks, shell bits and other debris to the outer surface of their trunks. When they are feeding, defending themselves, or exposed to air, they will curl in their tentacles, covering most of their body, and only leaving the outer layer of rocks and debris exposed. This can help serve as a sunscreen and protect them from drying out when exposed to air during low tides. The small rocks and debris also help to camouflage the anemones within the intertidal zone.
Aggregating anemone clone colonies are incredibly territorial against other aggregating anemone colonies. They will engage in “clone wars” and sting each other with white fighting tentacles. These wars often end with an empty ‘neutral territory’ between the two colonies.
Aggregating anemones are able to handle a wide range of temperatures, although higher temperatures may harm the symbiotic algae living in the body. They also thrive with an increase in carbon dioxide and are well suited to adjust to climate change.
Given stable conditions, aggregating anemones can technically be ‘immortal’, especially if you take into account the fact that they can clone themselves.
No conservation at this time. Aggregating anemones are incredibly hardy and can thrive with a large variation of temperature and carbon dioxide levels.
Aggregating anemones clone themselves into large colonies. These colonies will fight with other colonies that encroach on their territory by stinging them with their tentacles. This will result in a ‘neutral zone’ between the two colonies.
Aggregating anemones are being reviewed by scientists to help make anti cancer drugs.