Anthothoe chilensis

Anthothoe chilensis
Striped anemone (Anthothoe chilensis)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Cnidaria
Class:	Anthozoa
Subclass:	Hexacorallia
Order:	Actiniaria
Family:	Sagartiidae
Genus:	Anthothoe
Species:	A. chilensis
Binomial name
Anthothoe chilensis Lesson, 1830

The Anthothoe chilensis, common name striped anemone, is a species of sea anemone in the family Sagartiidae.^[1]

Description

Anthothoe chilensis is a small anemone of around 2 cm in diameter. It is vertically striped in pink, green or browns, though it may also be pale in colour.^[2]

Distribution

This species is found off Chile, Brazil and Argentina in South America, around St. Helena and off the southern African coast from Luderitz to Richards Bay. It inhabits waters from the intertidal zone to 28m in depth.

Ecology

Anthothoe chilensis shoots sticky defensive threads (acontia) through pores in its body wall when threatened. It has symbiotic bacteria living within its body which supplement its food supply by photosynthesis. Preyed upon by the indica nudibranch Anteaeolidiella foulisi.^[2]

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

External links