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Snakeslock

Snakelocks Anemone

The Snakelocks Anemone (Anemonia Viridis), will prefer brightly-lit rocky reefs which is seaweed rich compared to dark cliffs and overhangs. It captures small fish and other animals in its many stinging tentacles.

The tentacles of anemones in deep or murky water can be a grey colour but are otherwise usually a deep green colour with purple tips. This is due to the presence of symbiotic algae within the tentacles that use sunlight as an energy source. Since the anemones benefit from this they prefer brightly lit shallow waters. The two shown together in the image to the right show a marked difference in colouration. On average the snakelock anemone is 8 cm large.

Reproduction[]

Unlike other cnidarians, anemones (and other Anthozoa) entirely lack the free-swimming medusa stage of the life cycle; the polyp produces eggs and sperm, and the fertilized egg develops into a planula that develops directly into another polyp.

Anemones tend to stay in the same spot until conditions become unsuitable (prolonged dryness, for example), or a predator attacks them. In that case anemones can release themselves from the substrate and use flexing motions to swim to a new location. Most sea anemones attach temporarily to submerged objects; a few thrust themselves into the sand or live in furrows; a few are parasitic on other marine organisms.

The sexes in sea anemones are separate in some species, while others are protandric hermaphrodites. The gonads are strips of tissue within the mesenteries. Both sexual and asexual reproduction can occur. In sexual reproduction males release sperm to stimulate females to release eggs, and fertilization occurs. Anemones eject eggs and sperm through the mouth. The fertilized egg develops into a planula, which settles and grows into a single polyp. In asexual reproduction extratentacular budding occurs, a type of fission, where the anemone will split roughly in half generally through the mouth

Gallery[]

Videos[]

thumb|300px|right|British Wildlife Clips - Snakelocks Anemone

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