Condylactis aurantiaca

Condylactis aurantiaca, commonly known as the golden anemone, is a species of sea anemone in the family Actiniidae.[1] This species always remains largely buried in sand or sediment, attached to the substrate, with only the oral disc and tentacles visible.

Condylactis aurantiaca
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Anthozoa
Order: Actiniaria
Family: Actiniidae
Genus: Condylactis
Species:
C. aurantiaca
Binomial name
Condylactis aurantiaca
Synonyms
List
  • Actinia aurantiaca Delle Chiaje, 1825
  • Cereactis aurantiaca (Delle Chiaje, 1822)
  • Cereus aurentiacus (Delle Chiaje, 1822)
  • Condylactis auratiaca

Description
Condylactis aurantiaca tentacles

The column is translucent white with white spots, and grows to approximately 7 centimetres (2.8 in) in diameter. The oral disc may reach 12 centimetres (4.7 in). The overall diameter with the tentacles spread out is around 30 centimetres (12 in). This species usually has five whorls of tentacles, with 96 tentacles present when it is fully developed. The tentacles are each around 8 centimetres (3 in) long, green to yellow in colour, and sometimes greyish. They often have bands of white and other colours, and purple tips. The mouth, in the centre of the oral disc, is purplish.[2]

Distribution and habitat

Condylactis aurantiaca is found only in the Mediterranean Sea in depths of up to 80 metres. The base is attached to a rock, stone or shell and the column immersed in sediment, usually sand or gravel.[3]

Ecology

Like other sea anemones, this species catches prey with its tentacles which are armed with many cnidocytes, stinging cells which kill the prey. The prey is then transferred by the tentacles to the mouth. This sea anemone reproduces in spring and summer by releasing gametes into the water column where they are fertilised and develop into planula larvae. Alternatively, the gametes can be retained in the body cavity, the larvae being brooded there till the spring.[3]

The shrimp species Periclimenes aegylios may be found living symbiotically with this sea anemone.[4][5]

References
  1. "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Condylactis aurantiaca (Delle Chiaje, 1825)". marinespecies.org.
  2. "Condylactis aurantiaca". actiniaria.com.
  3. security. "DORIS - FFESSM - Biologie et plongée - Faune et flore sous-marines et dulcicoles". ffessm.fr.
  4. security. "DORIS - FFESSM - Biologie et plongée - Faune et flore sous-marines et dulcicoles". ffessm.fr.
  5. "Club de Inmersión Biología :: Crustáceos, Periclimenes aegylios". cibsub.com.

Photos of Condylactis aurantiaca in the Sealife Collection

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