Dofleinia armata
©Anne: Dofleinia armata, about 25 cm overall diameter, at bommies on NE side of Watson's Bay, Lizard Island.
©Anne: Dofleinia armata, oral disc about 4 cm diameter, at bommies on NE side of Watson's Bay, Lizard Island.
©Anne: Dofleinia armata, about 25 cm overall diameter, at bommies on NE side of Watson's Bay, Lizard Island.
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Cnidaria
Class
Anthozoa
Order
Actiniaria
Family
Actiniidae
Genus
Dofleinia
Species
Dofleinia armata
Colours
Distinguishing features
A moderately-sized sand-dwelling anemone with stout, tapering, unbranched tentacles covered with small bumps. Colour varies widely, from very pale to very dark. Based on just three observations so far, dark individuals are larger and out in he open and pale ones are smaller and either in crevices or nocturnal.
Dr Andrea Crowther (SA Museum) advises that these anemones can give a nasty sting. The small bumps on the tentacles are full of nematocycsts.
Only a single species is currently accepted in the genus (WoRMS accessed 31 Aug 2019).
Size
- Up to 25 cm (overall diameter)
Synonyms
Similar taxa
Behaviour
Do not retract into sand when disturbed.
