Sea Anemone
Class: Anthozoa
Sub Class: Hexacorallia
Order: Actiniaria
Family: Stichodactylidae

This marine species are predatory filter feeding animals of stunning formations and colouration.

Sea Anemones have an adhesive foot which attaches to the substrate, rocks and coral blocks.

They are disc shaped with stinging tentacles used for defence and capturing prey as it swims by.

Once captured food is pushed into the mouth located in the centre of the round body. Sea Anemones share a symbiotic relationship with Clownfish with both animals benefit from the other’s company.

The Clownfish keeps the Anemone clean in return for protection.

Most Sea Anemones spend their entire life in one place, although some species, for example the Heteractis magnifica, will change location.

Tube Dwelling Anemone
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Anthozoa
Sub Class: Zoantharia
Order: Ceriantharia
Family: Cerianthidae

Many Tube Anemones have glorious colouration, with stinging outer tentacles and inner tentacles that gather food to pass to the mouth.

Tube Anemones burrow into the soft substrate by expelling water from the vacuole and driving the pointed end down. Their tube like home can be up to three meters long and is coated with mucus to assist in a rapid retreat if threatened.

Tube worms are often confused with the Tube Anemone, however they are completely different animals.

They feed at night and, unlike their close relative the Sea Anemone, they have no relationships with Clownfish, symbiotic or otherwise.

In fact, Tube Anemones will happily eat Clownfish.

This species is often confused with Tube Worms, similar to the Sabellastarte magnifica.

However, they are a completely different animal having absolutely no relationship to one another, in spite of looking incredibly similar.