McPeak Anemone – Urticina mcpeaki

, McPeak Anemone - Urticina mcpeaki, Urticina mcpeaki
Depth: 1 - 36 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, Yellow Sea

The McPeak Anemone, scientifically known as Urticina mcpeaki, is a captivating species of sea anemone found in the vast expanse of the world’s oceans. These fascinating invertebrates are characterized by their vibrant colors, unique morphology, and ecological significance within their respective marine habitats.

Description & Characteristics

The McPeak Anemone exhibits a striking appearance, typically displaying a range of colors from vibrant hues of pink, orange, and red to more muted shades of brown and gray. Its columnar body, which can reach a maximum size of several inches in diameter, is adorned with numerous tentacles arranged in whorls around the oral disc. The tentacles, which are typically shorter than the column, are covered in stinging nematocysts that serve as both defensive mechanisms and tools for capturing prey.

Habitat and Occurrence

The McPeak Anemone, Urticina mcpeaki, is a common inhabitant of the intertidal and subtidal zones, demonstrating its adaptability to a range of marine environments. This anemone species is often found attached to rocks, shells, and other solid substrates, where it thrives in the presence of strong currents and wave action. While its specific geographical distribution remains under study, it is known to occur in various regions, including the Pacific Northwest of North America, making it a prevalent presence in these aquatic ecosystems.

Taxonomy

The species Urticina mcpeaki belongs to the Class: Hexacorallia, Order: Actiniaria, and Family: Actiniidae. The family Actiniidae, commonly known as the sea anemones, encompasses a diverse array of solitary polyps that play a crucial role in marine ecosystems.

Feeding

The McPeak Anemone, Urticina mcpeaki, is a carnivorous predator that relies on its stinging tentacles to capture and consume prey. Its diet primarily consists of zooplankton, which it paralyzes with its nematocysts before drawing the prey into its mouth using its tentacles. The anemone’s feeding behavior is intricately linked to the flow of water, as currents bring its prey within reach, showcasing the delicate balance between these organisms and their environment.

Associated Species

Image References

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