This page is a part of the Nearshore Field Guide prototype that is temporarily sharing the “games” category on this web site
Copyright © 2005 Mary Jo Adams
Anthopleura elegantissima lives in rocky areas from the middle to low intertidal zones, it can also be found higher in tide pools.
Colonies of Anthopleura elegantissima may cover large rocks. These cloned individuals usually don’t grow more than about an inch across before splitting into two new anemones. Larger solitary individuals can be found in tide pools and in the low intertidal zone.
This anemone is generally green with pink or purple tipped tentacles. The exact shade of green varies depending on the presence and ratio of two single-celled symbiotic organisms in its tissues; a green algae and an olive or golden brown dinoflagellate. Without the symbiont, they appear grayish or white except for the pink on their tentacles.
Anthopleura elegantissima has a rather general diet, feeding on small animals that it captures with its tentacles, barnacle molts, and other dead animal material.
Copyright © 2005 Mary Jo Adams
Anthopleura elegantissima may be hard to see because as the tide recedes and the organism closes up, it picks up bits of shells, sand, and small rocks that will cover it. This helps in camouflage and also protects it from drying out.
Copyright © 2005 Mary Jo Adams
Copyright © 2005 Mary Jo Adams
Original page on EZ-ID Guides was created by Mary Jo Adams on 10/23/05
