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Anthropleura
Nigresens
Dusky
Anemone
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click to enlarge
Chela
Zabin
Kaawa, May 2004
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Anthropleura
Nigrescens
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Description:
When this species is found in the intertidal, it is a dark brown, and the base is covered with sand and debris. It is small, about 1/4" to 1/2" in diameter, about the size of a roach. When the tide is out, it pulls in it's tentacles and resembles a large wart. Although Sea Anemones look like flowers, they are predatory animals. They have no skeleton at all. They live attached to objects in the water, usually the sea floor, rock, or coral, but they can slide around very slowly. Anthopleura Nigrescens can live very long.
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Habitat: The
Anthopleura Nigrescens was one of the most common anemone
found in the intertidal. It is found in rock crevices
and under rock cliffs. There are rarely found alone.
In calm waters, they may be free of debis, but most of the
intertidals we visited had small wave actions.
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Range
(include invasive, native, endemic): The Anthopleura Nigrescens is found in Hawaii and in Pacific waters. They are a tropical species and is found only in warmer waters.
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Trophic
information:
Their predators include the Grey Sea Slug, Tompot Blenny,a
small nudibranch, Herviella mietta, and the evil sea spiders.
The anthopleura nigrescens eats minute plankton, and other
microscopic organisms in the water. They eat zooplanktons
(like copepods, other small crustaceans, and tiny marine
larvae), and worms. They catch food using the tentacles,
which have poisonous stingers (called nematocysts). No symbiosis
was discovered in the intertidal.
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Safety: Every
cnidarian has stinging cells/nematocysts, but the anthopleura
nigrescens' sting is so weak, you won't feel it, and won't
affect you, but just to be safe, always wear gloves when
working with these organism. Cover toed shoes with
grip are necessary before going into the intertidal.
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Comments: Anthopleura
Nigrescens is one of the most common cnidarian in Hawaii,
and you'll probably see them at most sites. They were
found at every site that we studied and researched.
When you press down on them, they squirt water at you, but
don't bother them if you don't need to.
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to Resources:
You can check out more about the Anthopleura Nigrescens at these sites:
Reproductive Data from Pacific Biomedical Research Center
Enchanted Learning
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