Macrodactyla doreensis

Macrodactyla doreensis, common names long tentacle anemone and corkscrew tentacle sea anemone,[1] is a species of sea anemone in the family Actiniidae.

Macrodactyla doreensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Anthozoa
Order: Actiniaria
Family: Actiniidae
Genus: Macrodactyla
Species:
M. doreensis
Binomial name
Macrodactyla doreensis
(Quoy & Gaimard, 1833)
Synonyms
List
  • Actinia doreensis Quoy & Gaimard, 1833
  • Antheopsis doreensis (Quoy & Gaimard, 1833)
  • Anthopleura gelam (Haddon & Shackleton, 1893)
  • Cereactis doreyensis (Quoy & Gaimard, 1833)
  • Condylactis gelam Haddon & Shackleton, 1893
  • Macrodactyla doorensis
  • Macrodactyla doreenensis
  • Macrodactyla gelam (Mariscal 1972)
  • Paractis doreyensis

Description

Macrodactyla doreensis has relatively few tentacles. They are all similar to one another in size and colour, being purplish-gray to brown. Each grows to about 1.75 inches, are sinuous, and each taper evenly toward the tip. In some cases they have a corkscrew shape.

The oral disc is normally purplish-gray to brown, and sometimes has a green cast. It has a flared shape, and grows to a maximum of 5 cm wide, but is often far smaller. It has white lines that are oriented radially, sometimes extending onto the tentacles.

This anemone remains at the surface of the sediment, with the column buried. The lower portion of the column is a dull orange to bright red colour, with the upper portion being brownish, containing a round to ovoid verrucae in rows oriented longitudinally.

Distribution

This species is found in Japan, and south to the waters of New Guinea and northern Australia.[1]

Behaviour

The tentacles of Macrodactyla doreensis may either shrivel, or stick to hand of a person who disturbs it. This anemone can retract entirely into the sediment.[1]

Habitat

This species is commonly found at depths of 5 metres or less in muddy bottoms, and is commonly seen without fish present.

Symbionts

Amphiprion clarkii on Macrodactyla doreensis

M doreensis is a host of 5 different species of fish.[1][n 1]

Notes

  1. M. doreensis was recorded [1] as a host of Amphiprion chrysogaster, the Mauritian anemonefish, however this was an error.[2]

References

  1. Fautin, Daphne G.; Allen, Gerald R. (1997). Field Guide to Anemone Fishes and Their Host Sea Anemones. Western Australian Museum. ISBN 9780730983651. Archived from the original on 14 April 2015.
  2. Ollerton, Jeff; McCollin, Duncan; Fautin, Daphne G.; Allen, Gerald R. (2007). "Finding NEMO: nestedness engendered by mutualistic organization in anemonefish and their hosts". Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B: Biological Sciences. 274 (1609): 591–598. doi:10.1098/rspb.2006.3758. PMC 1766375. PMID 17476781.
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