Mcmurrich’s Anemone, Swimming Anemone, Swimming Sea Anemone, Muddy Shore Anemone – Boloceroides mcmurrichi

, Mcmurrich's Anemone, Swimming Anemone, Swimming Sea Anemone, Muddy Shore Anemone, Boloceroides mcmurrichi
Depth: 0 - 30 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 Mcmurrich’s Anemone, Swimming Anemone, Swimming Sea Anemone, Muddy Shore Anemone (Boloceroides mcmurrichi) is a fascinating and unique marine invertebrate found in coastal waters. This anemone, unlike many others, has the remarkable ability to swim freely, although it prefers to attach itself to surfaces when possible. Its intriguing characteristics and adaptability have made it a subject of interest for marine biologists and enthusiasts alike.

Description & Characteristics

Boloceroides mcmurrichi is a relatively small anemone, typically reaching a maximum size of a few inches in diameter. Its body is generally cylindrical or slightly conical, with a distinct oral disk at the top, containing the mouth and tentacles. The color of the anemone can vary depending on its habitat and the type of algae it harbors, ranging from shades of brown to green. The tentacles are numerous and arranged in rows around the oral disk, giving the anemone a distinctive appearance.

Habitat and Occurrence

Boloceroides mcmurrichi is commonly found in intertidal zones, particularly in muddy or sandy substrates. Its ability to swim allows it to move to more favorable locations in response to changes in water conditions or food availability. While it typically inhabits shallow waters, it has been observed at depths of up to 20 meters. This species is particularly common in temperate regions, including the coasts of North America and Europe. It can be found in a variety of marine zones, including estuaries, bays, and open coastlines.

Taxonomy

Boloceroides mcmurrichi is classified within the Class: Hexacorallia, Order: Actiniaria, and Family: Boloceroididae. This family encompasses a diverse range of sea anemones, characterized by their ability to swim and their often slender, elongated bodies. The name “Boloceroides” reflects their resemblance to the genus Bolocera, while “mcmurrichi” honors the Canadian zoologist, James Playfair McMurrich, who described and named this species in 1901.

Feeding

Boloceroides mcmurrichi is a carnivorous animal, primarily feeding on small invertebrates such as crustaceans, worms, and plankton. It uses its tentacles to capture prey and paralyze it with stinging nematocysts. This anemone also obtains nutrients from the photosynthetic activity of zooxanthellae, microscopic algae that live symbiotically within its tissues. The presence of zooxanthellae provides the anemone with an additional source of energy and gives it its distinctive brown or green coloration.

Associated Species

Image References

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