What are sea anemones?
Q: What are sea anemones?
A: Sea anemones are Cnidarian animals that live in the sea. They are polyps, one of the basic forms of the phylum.
Q: How do sea anemones feed?
A: Sea anemones are predatory animals which paralyse their prey with stinging nematocysts. These fire a harpoon-like structure which delivers a dose of neurotoxins. To eat the fish or crustacean, they move the prey into their stomach where it is slowly digested.
Q: Are sea anemones mobile?
A: Sea anemones are sessile and generally like to stay in one area; however, some types can swim to a new location by using flexing movements.
Q: Where can sea anemones be found?
A: Many species of sea anemone live in rockpools between high tide and low tide on rocky shores, but some can also be found in deep oceans and a few species are pelagic.
Q: What parts make up a sea anemone's body?
A: A sea anemone has two main parts - its oral disk on top of its body and its pedal disc on the bottom. The mouth and gut of the animal is located at the center of its oral disk while tentacles surround it.
Q: Do any other animals form symbiotic relationships with sea anenomes?
A: Yes, many other animals form symbiotic relationships with certain species of sea anenomes such as clownfish, Incognito goby, arrow crabs which may shelter among their tentacles or hermit crabs who often have them living on their shells for protection from predators. Additionally, some species have formed mutualistic relationships with dinoflagellate algae which lives inside them and use sunlight to make food for both parties involved in this relationship - similar to what corals do as well.
Q: Who first conducted detailed investigations into these creatures?
A: The first detailed investigation into these creatures was done by naturalist Philip Henry Gosse who surveyed those found near British Isles beaches during his research expedition there.
