Lobed Anemone – Antholoba achates

, Lobed Anemone, Antholoba achates
Depth: 0 - 327 m

Afghanistan, Alaska, Algeria, Andaman and Nicobar, Angola, Antarctica, Antigua and Barbuda, Arctic, Argentina, Ascension Island, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Azores Islands, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Canary Islands, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Cocos Islands, Comoros, Congo, Cook Islands, Corsica Island, Crete Island, Croatia, Curaçao, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, El Salvador, England, Equatorial Guinea, Falkland Islands, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, French Polynesia, Gabon, Galapagos Islands, Germany, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Hawaii, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Ivory Coast, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Macedonia, Madagascar, Madeira Islands, Malawi, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norfolk Island, North Korea, Northern Ireland, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Reunion Island, Romania, Russia, Saint Martin, São Tomé and Príncipe, Sardinia Island, Scotland, Senegal, Serbia, Sicily Island, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, South Georgia And The South Sandwich Islands, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Turks and Caicos Islands, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States Minor Outlying Islands, Uruguay, US Minor Islands, USA, Uzbekistan, Vatican City, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands, Wales, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Amvrakikos Gulf, Andaman Sea, Arabian Sea, Aral Sea, Arctic Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Baltic Sea, Barents Sea, Bay of Bengal, Bay of Biscay, Beaufort Sea, Bering Sea, Black Sea, Bohai Sea, Cantabrian Sea, Celtic Sea, Chukchi Sea, Coral Sea, Dead Sea, English Channel, German Bight, Great Barrier Reef, Greenland Sea, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Fonseca, Gulf of Maine, Gulf of Mexico, Gulf of Saint Lawrence, Halmahera Sea, Iberian Sea, Indian Ocean, Java Sea, Korinthiakos Gulf, Labrador Sea, Levantine Sea, Lingayan Gulf, Mediterranean Sea, Moro Gulf, Okhotsk Sea, Pacific Ocean, Pagassitikos Gulf, Salish Sea, Saronikos Gulf, Scotia Sea, Sea of Azov, Sea of Marmara, Siberian Sea, South China Sea, Southern Ocean, Thermaikos Gulf

The Lobed Anemone – Antholoba achates is a captivating marine invertebrate belonging to the family Antholobidae. This anemone is characterized by its striking appearance and unique adaptations, making it an intriguing subject of study for marine biologists and enthusiasts alike.

Description & Characteristics

The Antholoba achates is a visually striking anemone that displays a distinctive morphology. Its body is typically cylindrical, with a prominent oral disc and a base that adheres to a substrate. The anemone’s most notable feature is its lobed tentacles, which are arranged in rings around the oral disc. These tentacles are typically short and numerous, giving the anemone a distinctive appearance.

Habitat and Occurrence

The Antholoba achates is a common resident of coastal waters, primarily inhabiting intertidal zones. This anemone prefers rocky substrates, where it can attach itself securely. It is commonly found in tide pools and other sheltered environments. Due to its preference for these shallow water habitats, the Antholoba achates is often found in the neritic zone, which encompasses the coastal waters of the ocean.

Taxonomy

The Antholoba achates is a member of the Antholobidae family, which includes several other species of anemones. The family belongs to the Order Actiniaria, which comprises a diverse group of solitary anemones. The Actiniaria order, in turn, falls under the Class Hexacorallia, a large group of cnidarians that includes corals and sea anemones. This classification highlights the evolutionary relationships between the Antholoba achates and other marine invertebrates.

Feeding

The Antholoba achates is a carnivorous animal, feeding primarily on zooplankton. It uses its tentacles to capture prey, which it then paralyzes using stinging nematocysts. The anemone’s tentacles are covered in these specialized cells, which contain a venomous fluid. When prey comes into contact with the tentacles, the nematocysts discharge, injecting the toxin and paralyzing the prey. The paralyzed prey is then drawn into the anemone’s mouth, where it is digested.

Associated Species

Image References

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