Giant Carpet Anemone [Stichodactyla gigantea]
Description
Stichodactyla gigantea, commonly known as the Giant Carpet Anemone, is a species of sea anemone that lives on the seabed in the Indo-Pacific area. It is typically found on sandy substrates, under rocks or coral formations. The anemone is large and flat, reaching up to 50 cm in diameter. It has a soft and sticky texture, with a wide variety of colors, often with a marbled effect. Its tentacles, radiating out from the central mouth, are short, tapered and armed with cnidocytes (stinging cells).
Taxonomy
| Phylum |
Jellyfish, Sea Anemones, and Relatives
Cnidaria
|
|---|---|
| Class |
Sea Anemones and Corals
Anthozoa
|
| Order |
True Sea Anemones
Actiniaria
|
| Family |
Giant Carpet Anemones
Stichodactylidae
|
| Genus |
Giant Carpet Anemone
Stichodactyla
|