Phlyctenactis tuberculosa

Phlyctenactis tuberculosa
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Anthozoa
Subclass: Hexacorallia
Order: Actiniaria
Family: Actiniidae
Genus: Phlyctenactis
Species: P. tuberculosa
Binomial name
Phlyctenactis tuberculosa
(Quoy & Gaimard, 1833) [1]
Synonyms[1]
  • Actinia tuberculosa Quoy & Gaimard, 1833
  • Phlyctenactis retifera Stuckey, 1909

Phlyctenactis tuberculosa, common name the wandering sea anemone[2] or swimming anemone, is a species of sea anemone in the family Actiniidae. It is native to shallow seas around Australia and New Zealand. It was first described by the French zoologist Jean René Constant Quoy and the French naturalist Joseph Paul Gaimard. They were naval surgeons serving in the French Navy and made extensive collections of organisms they came across in their travels.[3]

Description

This anemone is covered with bubble-like sacks, and comes in a variety of colours from brownish orange, mauve, light grey to brown in colour. The tentacles are lighter, and may be pale yellow, grey, brown or orange-yellow in colour.[4][5] It grows to a maximum size of 15 centimetres (6 in) in diameter with a column that can reach 25 centimetres (10 in) long. During the day, it remains bundled together, appearing like a ball of baked beans.[6]

Habitat and behaviour

This is a nocturnal species, living in moderately exposed areas and among sheltered reefs at depths to 35 metres. It attaches to rock, seagrasses and kelp, but is able to detach its pedal disc, and is commonly found drifting on the sea floor.[7] It moves about on the seabed by creeping with its basal disc, and at night climbs sea grasses or algae to find a better location to intercept prey floating past.[8]

Distribution

This species occurs in Western Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania, and New Zealand.[9]

Venom

The wandering sea anemone is venomous and touching the tentacles can cause a painful sting. Swimmers are advised to avoid touching the sea anemone and to wear protective clothing.[8]

References

  1. 1 2 "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Phlyctenactis tuberculosa (Quoy & Gaimard, 1833)". Marinespecies.org. Retrieved 2012-10-31.
  2. ↑ Rudman, W.B. "Wandering Sea Anemone, (Phlyctenactis tuberculosa )". The Sea Slug Forum. Retrieved 2012-10-31.
  3. ↑ Brian Saunders (2012). Discovery of Australia's Fishes: A History of Australian Ichthyology to 1930. Csiro Publishing. p. 29. ISBN 978-0-643-10672-7.
  4. ↑ Steve de C. Cook. New Zealand Coastal Marine Invertebrates. 1. ISBN 978-1877257-60-5.
  5. ↑ "Port Phillip Bay Taxonomy Toolkit". Portphillipmarinelife.net.au. Retrieved 2012-10-31.
  6. ↑ "Anemone". Woodbridge.tased.edu.au. Retrieved 2012-10-31.
  7. ↑ http://web.nhm.ku.edu/inverts/pdf/Ptychodactis_aleutiensis.pdf
  8. 1 2 Loisette M. Marsh; Shirley Slack-Smith (2010). Field Guide to Sea Stingers and Other Venomous and Poisonous Marine Invertebrates. Western Australian Museum. pp. 95–96. ISBN 978-1-920843-92-2.
  9. ↑ http://eol.org/pages/421630/maps
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