Sea Anemone

Sea anemones belong to the Actiniaria order of predatory marine organisms. They are named after the anemone, a terrestrial flowering plant, because of their vibrant appearance. The phylum Cnidaria, class Anthozoa, subclass Hexacorallia, includes sea anemones. Sea anemones are related to corals, jellyfish, tube-dwelling anemones, and Hydra as cnidarians. Sea anemones, unlike jellyfish, do not have a medusa stage in their life cycle.

A typical sea anemone is a solitary polyp with its base attached to a hard surface, but other species live in soft silt and a few float near the water's surface. The polyp has a columnar stem with a central mouth and an oral disc with a ring of tentacles.

The tentacles can be retracted or stretched to seize passing prey. To their mutual benefit, certain sea anemone species coexist with hermit crabs, tiny fish, or other creatures.

Speed: 4/10-inch per hour