Atlantic Beadlet Anemone
Actinia equina
Mediterranean Beadlet Anemone
Actinia mediterranea
About
The Mediterranean beadlet anemone is a bright red, solitary animal fixed to rocky shores around the Mediterranean and nearby Atlantic coasts. It can survive being exposed at low tide, drawing in its tentacles until it looks like a small red blob.
How to tell it apart
It is often confused with the common beadlet anemone, which it closely resembles and shares a common name with. The fine blue line around the base of its foot is missing on that species and settles the difference.
Appearance
Its body is smooth and bright red, anchored to rock by a cylindrical foot that works like a suction pad. Underwater it opens a large number of short, retractable tentacles arranged in six rings around the mouth. A fine blue line runs around the base of the foot, where the body meets the rock.
Habitat
It lives in the intertidal zone, fixed to rock, often tucked out of direct sunlight in both exposed and sheltered spots. It can handle changing tides, temperature, and salt levels, as well as being left dry at low tide.
Behaviour
This anemone stays fixed in one place and hunts at night, using its stinging tentacles to catch zooplankton, small fish, and tiny crustaceans drifting past, along with bits of organic matter. At low tide it pulls in its tentacles and closes up.
Log it in Into the Blue
Describe what you saw and we name it, then keep every species you find in your Oceandex.
