The White Spotted Anemone
The White Spotted Anemone is one of many types of sea anemone. Anemones are anchored below the surface of the water, which is vital to the respiration of the anemone. The anemone uses a rather primitive form of respiration, known as diffusion. They do not have specialized tissue structures such as gills or lungs, so they use dissolved oxygen in the water. The water is taken in and put back out through the inner and outer layers of the anemone. Anemones do not possess the surface area that would be required for diffusion of gas, so they must remain in water to survive. The clownfish, a sea anemone dweller, is responsible for assisting the anemone with its respiration. The clownfish will actually help the anemone gain more oxygen, which allows it to grow more. This is a mutually beneficial relationship for the species.
FUN FACTS ABOUT ANEMONES
(From seaworld.org)
(From seaworld.org)
- In the Red Sea and Indo-Pacific, clownfishes (Apmhiprion spp.) live symbiotically among the tentacles of large sea anemones, a habit that would prove lethal to most other fishes. A coating of mucus probably protects the fish. Clownfishes have a mucus layer three to four times thicker than nonsymbiotic fishes. Also, the mucus appears to lack the chemical compounds that trigger nematocyst discharge. Researchers also believe that acclimation is involved; the clownfishes must “ease” into the tentacles and grow immune to them. The anemone provides protection and some food leftovers for the fish; the fish in turn protects the anemone from some predators, removes dead tissue, and by its swimming, ventilates the anemones and reduces fouling by sediment.
- The green sea anemone’s color is caused partly by pigments in its epidermis and partly by single-celled green algae living in the anemone’s tissues. Certain individuals living in crevices away from sunlight tend to lack the algae; they are white.
- Some species of anemones exhibit aggression towards non-clones or other anemone species. Specialized cnidocytes on searching tentacles are fired on contact with the other anemone. One or both anemones may suffer tissue damage. This behavior may provide spatial separation between species or clones.
- A few sea anemones in European and American waters have nematocysts that can produce a severe toxic reaction in humans. They include the berried sea anemones, Alicia mirabilis, and the Caribbean sea anemone, Lebrunia danae. The most toxic sea anemone is believed to be the West Australian, Dolfleina armata.