- Beadlet anemone
Taxobox
name = Beadlet Anemone
image_width = 300px
image_caption = Green Beadlet Anemone ("Actinia equina"), the lower shore line at low tide,Mediterranean sea ,Palermo .
regnum =Animal ia
phylum =Cnidaria
classis =Anthozoa
subclassis =Hexacorallia
ordo =Actiniaria
family =Actiniidae
genus = "Actinia "
species = "Actinia equina"The Beadlet anemone ("Actinia equina") is a commonsea anemone found on rocky shores around all coasts of the UK. Its range extends to the rest of Western Europe and the Mediterranean, and probably as far as the coast of West Africa."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 variablesalinity such as estuaries.Underwater, it displays up to 192
tentacle s, 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 5cm across. There is some evidence that the various colour forms may in fact be different species."Actinia equina" is similar in form to the
Strawberry anemone ("Actinia fragacea") but is a uniform colour and is typically rather smaller.References
*Naylor, P, "Great British Marine Animals", 2nd edn, Sound Diving Publications, 2003.
* [http://www.marlin.ac.uk/species/Actiniaequina.htm Marine Life Information Network (MarLIN)]
* [http://www.seaslug.org.uk/marinelife/species.asp?item=D11510 Encyclopedia of Marine Life of Britain and Ireland]
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