Image
Tube-Dwelling Anemone

A Group
(1 of 6) (12361 views)

./Tube_Dwelling_Anemone_20101020_164642_BCY_2329.jpg

A group of several tube-dwelling anemone swirled in the water moving over a soft sandy bottom.

Tube-Dwelling Anemone external link (Ceriantharia membranaceus)   •  The Monterey Bay Aquarium external link   •  886 Cannery Row external link Monterey external link California   •  (Photo posted Friday 28 October 2011)   •  (Photo taken 16:46:42 Wednesday 20 October 2010)   •  © 2011 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #BCY_2329
Add a comment or report a mistake

Bent Tubes
(2 of 6) (8588 views)

./Tube_Dwelling_Anemone_20101020_164648_BCY_2330.jpg

The tubes are made from secreted mucus and threads of nematocyst-like organelles, known as ptychocysts. The tubes are rigid and once formed retain their shape.

Tube-Dwelling Anemone external link (Ceriantharia membranaceus)   •  The Monterey Bay Aquarium external link   •  886 Cannery Row external link Monterey external link California   •  (Photo posted Friday 28 October 2011)   •  (Photo taken 16:46:48 Wednesday 20 October 2010)   •  © 2011 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #BCY_2330
Add a comment or report a mistake

Small And Large
(3 of 6) (8520 views)

./Tube_Dwelling_Anemone_20101020_164659_BCY_2331.jpg

The exhibit included examples in all sizes. The tallest were only 8 inches (20 cm) with tentacles extended.

Tube-Dwelling Anemone external link (Ceriantharia membranaceus)   •  The Monterey Bay Aquarium external link   •  886 Cannery Row external link Monterey external link California   •  (Photo posted Friday 28 October 2011)   •  (Photo taken 16:46:59 Wednesday 20 October 2010)   •  © 2011 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #BCY_2331
Add a comment or report a mistake

When Frightened
(4 of 6) (8474 views)

./Tube_Dwelling_Anemone_20101020_164708_BCY_2332.jpg

When frightened or threatened (or perhaps only when activated by sound or shadow), the tentacles withdraw into the tube for protection.

Tube-Dwelling Anemone external link (Ceriantharia membranaceus)   •  The Monterey Bay Aquarium external link   •  886 Cannery Row external link Monterey external link California   •  (Photo posted Friday 28 October 2011)   •  (Photo taken 16:47:08 Wednesday 20 October 2010)   •  © 2011 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #BCY_2332
Add a comment or report a mistake

Two Size Tentacles
(5 of 6) (8839 views)

./Tube_Dwelling_Anemone_20101020_164733_BCY_2333.jpg

The large outer tentacles are for defense. The inner small tentacles are used for ingestion.

Tube-Dwelling Anemone external link (Ceriantharia membranaceus)   •  The Monterey Bay Aquarium external link   •  886 Cannery Row external link Monterey external link California   •  (Photo posted Friday 28 October 2011)   •  (Photo taken 16:47:33 Wednesday 20 October 2010)   •  © 2011 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #BCY_2333
Add a comment or report a mistake

Anemone With Sea Star
(6 of 6) (8956 views)

./Tube_Dwelling_Anemone_20101020_164748_BCY_2334.jpg

A sea star moved slowly past a tube-dwelling anemone.

Tube-Dwelling Anemone external link (Ceriantharia membranaceus)   •  The Monterey Bay Aquarium external link   •  886 Cannery Row external link Monterey external link California   •  (Photo posted Friday 28 October 2011)   •  (Photo taken 16:47:48 Wednesday 20 October 2010)   •  © 2011 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #BCY_2334
Add a comment or report a mistake
Subscribe to our mailing list for a Sunday summary of the week's stories.
* indicates required
Email Format
home • contact • topic guide • top 25 • photos • video • writing • blogs • upload • terms • privacy