Beadlet anemone

Pferdeaktinie ( Actinia equina )

The Pferdeaktinie ( Actinia equina ) is a sea anemone ( order Actiniaria ) and belongs to the class Anthozoa ( Anthozoa ).

Features

Pferdeaktinien are red in color, they reach a height of six inches, which are up to two inches long 192 pointed tentacles. The tentacles are arranged in six circles on the edge of the oral disc. Between the outer crown of tentacles and the body wall are "fringe bag ", which are laden with nematocysts. The prey consists of fish, crustaceans and molluscs. They come in two forms that differ by size, habitat and mode of reproduction. Mold 1 reaches a diameter of six to seven centimeters. She lives in the lower intertidal and lays eggs ( oviparous ). Form 2 reached a diameter of 2.5 to three centimeters, lives in the upper intertidal zone and is viviparous ( viviparous ). In their case, the oocytes develop already in Gastralraum to Planulalarven.

Pferdeaktinien can fall dry at low tide. They feed their tentacles and protect themselves with mucus production from drying out.

Occurrence

Pferdeaktinien are common in rocky shores in the intertidal zone in the northeastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean. A. equina is one of the most common water lilies in the tidal area of ​​the Mediterranean, Atlantic and North Sea coast.