Starlet sea anemone

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iStarlet sea anemone
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Anthozoa
Order: Actiniaria
Family: Edwardsiidae
Genus: Nematostella
Species: N. vectensis
Binomial name
Nematostella vectensis
Stephenson, 1935

The starlet sea anemone (Nematostella vectensis) is a species of sea anemone. This species of sea anemone lives in salt marshes along the coast of the United Kingdom, as well as the east and west coasts of the United States. Populations have also been located in Nova Scotia, Canada. The starlet sea anemone has a bulbous basal end and a contracting column (usually less than two cm but no more than six cm) in order to burrow into the mud. At the top of the column is an oral disk containing the mouth surrounded by two rings of tentacles - typically 16 but up to 20. Although the general color is a greyish white, recent food consumption may temporarily affect pigmentation.


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