Leathery Sea Anemone (species: Heteractis crispa) in taxonomy (Gaia Guide)
Animalia > Radiata > Cnidaria > Anthozoa > Anthozoa > Hexacorallia > Actiniaria > Nyantheae > Thenaria > Stichodactylidae > Heteractis > Heteractis crispa (gallery)
Heteractis crispa
Leathery Sea Anemone


©Lyle Vail: Heteractis crispa at Lizard Island, Queensland, with unidentified anemonefish.

©Jan Messersmith: Leathery Sea Anemone (Heteractis crispa)

©Anne: Heteractis crispa at Cod Hole near Lizard Island. The fish are Amphiprion akindynos

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Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Cnidaria
Class Anthozoa
Order Actiniaria
Family Stichodactylidae
Genus Heteractis
Species Heteractis crispa
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Colours

                   

Distinguishing features

They have long wavy tentacles and come in many colour variations.

Size

  • Size data has not been obtained.

Synonyms

Comments

"Colour is a really poor guide to species in anemones" - Daphne Fautin, pers.comm. Feb 2014

by Anne Hoggett

Distribution


©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution

Behaviour

This species is host to many anemonefish species. Of those found at Lizard Island, Amphiprion akindynos, Amphiprion chrysopterus, Amphiprion melanopus, Amphiprion perculaand Amphiprion perideraion are known to inhabit this species.

Web resources

References

  • Elliott, J.K. and R.N. Mariscal (1996). Ontogenetic and interspecific variation in the protection of anemonefishes from sea anemones. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 208: 52-72. LIRS catalog number 1662.
  • Fautin, D.G. (1985). Why do anemonefishes inhabit only some host actinians? "Proceedings of the Fifth International Coral Reef Congress, Tahiti".5, : 373-377(?). LIRS catalog number 189.
  • Fautin, D.G. and G.R. Allen (1992). Field guide to anemonefishes and their host sea anemones Western Australian Museum, Perth, WA.
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