Page 268 - (DK) Ocean - The Definitive Visual Guide

266 ANIMAL LIFE

CLASS ANTHOZOA its name, it is not a true stony coral CLASS ANTHOZOA CLASS ANTHOZOA
but instead is in the same group as sea
Mediterranean fans (see p.265). Like them, its branches Slender Sea Pen Giant Anemone
are covered in small polyps, each of
Red Coral which has eight branched tentacles. Virgularia mirabilis Condylactis gigantea
However, the supporting skeleton is HEIGHT DIAMETER Up to 12 in
made mainly from hard calcium Up to 24 in (60 cm) (30 cm)
Corallium rubrum
HEIGHT Up to 20 in carbonate colored a deep red or pink. DEPTH DEPTH 10–165 ft
(50 cm)
This coral is now scarce in places that 33–1,300 ft (10–400 m) (3–50 m)
DEPTH 165–650 ft are easily accessible to collectors. HABITAT HABITAT Coral reefs and
(50–200 m)
Sediment rocks
HABITAT Shaded rocks DISTRIBUTION Temperate waters of northeastern DISTRIBUTION Tropical waters of Caribbean Sea and
and caves
Atlantic and Mediterranean western Atlantic
DISTRIBUTION Mediterranean and warm waters of
eastern Atlantic
The muddy bottoms of sheltered sea The long, purple-tipped tentacles
lochs in Scotland and Norway are of this large anemone bring a splash
Often called precious coral, often carpeted in dense beds of of color to Caribbean reefs. Its
Mediterranean red coral has been slender sea pens. This species has a columnar body is usually tucked away
collected and its skeleton made into structure similar to the orange sea between rocks or corals, leaving only
jewelry for centuries. In spite of pen (see below, left) but has a much the stinging tentacles exposed. Several
thinner central stalk and thin branches. small reef fish (mainly blennies) can
Almost half the stalk is buried in the live unharmed among the tentacles,
CLASS ANTHOZOA to an old-fashioned quill pen. The sediment and the colony can withdraw where they gain protection from
orange sea pen consists of a central into the sediment if disturbed. predators. The giant anemone can
Orange Sea Pen stem with branches on either side. move slowly along on its basal disk
The basal part of the stem is bulbous if it wants to find a better position
Ptilosarcus gurneyi and anchors the colony in the on the reef.
HEIGHT sediment. Single rows of polyps extend
Up to 20 in (50 cm) their eight tentacles into the water
DEPTH from each leaflike branch, giving the
33–1,000 ft (10–300 m) front of the sea pen a downy
HABITAT appearance. The colony faces toward
Sediment the prevailing current to maximize the
DISTRIBUTION Temperate waters of northeastern flow of plankton over the feeding
Pacific polyps. When no current is flowing,
the colony can retract down into the
Unlike the majority of anthozoans, sea sediment. Although they tend to stay
pens live in areas of sand and mud. in one place, colonies can relocate and
They get their name re-anchor themselves if necessary.
from their Predators of sea pens include sea
resemblance slugs and starfish.

CLASS ANTHOZOA
Beadlet Anemone

acrorhagi containing
Actinia equina
DIAMETER stinging cells
3
Up to 2 / 4 in (7 cm)
DEPTH retracted, looking like a blob of red or
0–65 ft (0–20 m) green jelly. The top of the anemone’s
HABITAT body is ringed with blue beads called
OCEAN LIFE Most anemones cannot survive out to repel any close neighbors. Leaning
Hard surfaces
acrorhagi. These contain numerous
stinging cells, which the anemone uses
DISTRIBUTION Coastal waters of Mediterranean,
northeastern and eastern Atlantic
over, it will sting any anemone within
reach, and the defeated anemone
will move slowly out of the victor’s
of water, but the beadlet anemone can
territory. The beadlet anemone broods
do so provided it stays damp. At low
its eggs and young inside the body
tide, this anemone can be found on
and ejects them through its mouth.
rocky shores with its tentacles