Violet-spotted anemone

violet-spotted anemone
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Cnidaria
Class:	Anthozoa
Subclass:	Hexacorallia
Order:	Actiniaria
Family:	Actiniidae
Genus:	Anthostella
Species:	A. stephensoni
Binomial name
Anthostella stephensoni Carlgren, 1938

The violet-spotted anemone, Anthostella stephensoni, is a species of sea anemone in the family Actiniidae.^[1]

Description

The violet-spotted anemone is a medium-sized anemone of up to 12 cm in diameter. It has a smooth yellow column with randomly placed bright violet spots. Scarlet lines radiate from the mouth to 48 short blunt tentacles. Two violet spots are normally found on either side of the mouth.^[2]

Distribution

The violet-spotted anemone is only found around the southern African coast from Luderitz to Richards Bay. It inhabits waters from low tide to at least 18m in depth.

References

1. Branch, G.M., Branch, M.L, Griffiths, C.L. and Beckley, L.E. 2010. Two Oceans: a guide to the marine life of southern Africa ISBN 978-1-77007-772-0
2. Jones, Georgina. A field guide to the marine animals of the Cape Peninsula. SURG, Cape Town, 2008. ISBN 978-0-620-41639-9