Pseudactinia flagellifera
Pseudactinia flagellifera | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Cnidaria |
Class: | Hexacorallia |
Order: | Actiniaria |
Family: | Actiniidae |
Genus: | Pseudactinia |
Species: | P. flagellifera
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Binomial name | |
Pseudactinia flagellifera (Drayton in Dana, 1846)
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Pseudactinia flagellifera, the false plum anemone, is a species of sea anemone in the family Actiniidae.[1] It is also a member of the kingdom, Animalia.
Description[]
The false plum anemone is a large anemone of up to 20 cm in diameter. It has a smooth column that may be orange, yellow or red. The tips of its tentacles are often mauve. It has a protruding round mouth, and the oral surface may be striped. It has rows of small round protrusions (spherules) outside its tentacles.[2]
Distribution[]
It is found around the southern African coast from Luderitz to Durban. It is also found around Madeira. It inhabits waters from the intertidal to 35m in depth.
Ecology[]
The false plum anemone cannot easily retract its tentacles.
It preys mostly on molluscs, and has been reported to have a serious sting which can affect humans. It is able to move about slowly and maintains territory by stinging genetically unrelated anemones with its spherules.[2]
References[]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pseudactinia flagellifera. |
- Actiniidae
- Animals described in 1846