Sea Anemone

A sea anemone is a predatory marine invertebrate that belongs to the phylum Cnidaria, making it a close relative of corals and jellyfish. They are named after a terrestrial flower, the anemone, due to their often vibrant, flower-like appearance.

A sea anemone's body is a cylindrical polyp with a sticky, adhesive base called a pedal disc that it uses to anchor itself to rocks, coral, or the seafloor. The top of the body is a flat oral disc with a central mouth surrounded by a ring of waving tentacles. These tentacles are covered in specialized stinging cells called nematocysts, which fire tiny harpoon-like filaments filled with venom to paralyze or kill prey.

Sea anemones are found in all oceans of the world, from shallow intertidal zones to the deepest parts of the sea. They are carnivorous, using their stinging tentacles to capture and consume a wide range of prey, including fish, crabs, and other small marine animals.

Some sea anemone species form a famous mutualistic relationship with other marine animals, most notably clownfish. The clownfish has a protective mucus coating that prevents the anemone's stinging cells from firing. In return for a safe home and protection from predators, the clownfish helps to clean the anemone and provides it with nutrients from its waste.