Sun Anemone, Sunburst Anemone, Starburst Anemone, – Anthopleura sola

, Sun Anemone, Sunburst Anemone, Starburst Anemone,, Anthopleura sola
Depth: 1 - 18 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 Sun Anemone, Sunburst Anemone, Starburst Anemone, also known scientifically as Anthopleura sola, is a captivating and widely distributed sea anemone species. Characterized by its vibrant and distinctive appearance, it is a common sight in intertidal zones and tidal zones, adding a splash of color to coastal ecosystems.

Description & Characteristics

Anthopleura sola is easily recognizable by its bright, often orange or reddish-brown, columnar body, which typically measures a few centimeters in diameter. The anemone’s oral disc, which houses the mouth, is adorned with numerous short tentacles arranged in a radial pattern. These tentacles, which are often tipped with white, serve a dual purpose: they capture prey and also house symbiotic algae called zooxanthellae. This symbiotic relationship allows the anemone to derive energy from sunlight, making it a particularly adaptable species.

Habitat and Occurrence

The Sun Anemone, Sunburst Anemone, Starburst Anemone, typically inhabits the intertidal zone and tidal zone, making it a prevalent presence in these aquatic ecosystems. These marine zones, characterized by their fluctuating water levels due to the tides, provide a challenging yet suitable habitat for this species. Its ability to withstand exposure to air during low tide and the dynamic conditions of the intertidal zone contribute to its wide distribution.

Taxonomy

The species Anthopleura sola belongs to the Class: Hexacorallia, Order: Actiniaria, and Family: Actiniidae. This classification places it within a group of marine invertebrates characterized by their radial symmetry and the presence of stinging cells called nematocysts.

Feeding

Anthopleura sola employs a variety of feeding strategies. Its tentacles capture small invertebrates, such as amphipods, copepods, isopods, and fish larvae. The anemone’s diet also includes zooplankton, which it captures from the water column. In addition to these sources, the symbiotic zooxanthellae residing within its tentacles provide supplementary nutrition through photosynthesis, allowing the anemone to thrive in environments with varying levels of food availability.

Associated Species

Image References

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