Beadlet anemone
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 Green Beadlet Anemone (Actinia equina), the lower shore line at low tide, Mediterranean sea, Palermo.
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The Beadlet anemone (Actinia equina) is a common sea anemone found on rocky shores around all coasts of the UK. Its range extends to Western Europe and the Mediterranean, and probably as far as the coast of West Africa.
Actinia equina can be found both in exposed and sheltered situations. It is highly adapted to the intertidal zone as it can tolerate both high temperatures and desiccation. The anemone may also be found in regions of variable salinity such as estuaries.
Underwater, it displays up to 192 tentacles, arranged in six circles. Out of water, the tentacles retract and the anemone resembles a blob of red, brown, green or orange jelly, up to about 5cm across. There is some evidence that the various colour forms may in fact be different species.
Actinia equina is similar in form to the Strawberry anemone (Actinia fragacea) but is a uniform colour and is typically rather smaller.
[edit] References
- Naylor, P, Great British Marine Animals, 2nd edn, Sound Diving Publications, 2003.
- Marine Life Information Network (MarLIN)
- Encyclopedia of Marine Life of Britain and Ireland
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