Neil McDaniel, Kanada
Info
Very special thanks for the first photo of Stomphia didemon to Neil McDaniel, Canada!
Stomphia didemon is a small reddish, orange or brownish deep sea anemone in the family Actinostolidae and is known only from Alaska, British Columbia and Washington State, it is one of the largest anemones found in the deep sea.
The tentacles of the apple anemone are stubby rather than long and number at least 160 in adults.
The apple anemone has a broad column or base. But it is not immobile like most anemones. When threatened, it stretches and sways from side to side to break away from the bottom. Then it "swims" away by rapidly bending or curving its column or kicking its tentacles.
This species attaches to rocks and shells, the most common substrate being the shell of the horse mussel Modiolus modiolus, where it consumes planktonic material as a suspension feeder.
When attacked by one of its predators, such as the starfish (Dermasterias imbricata) or an individual of the nudibranch species Aeolidia papillosa or Eubranchus exiguus, it can release the grip of its disc and swim away.
If it succeeds in escaping, it attaches itself to a new substrate shortly thereafter; for this reason, the anemone has therefore been given the name "cowardly" or "swimming" anemone.
Naming:
The specific name "coccinea" means "scarlet" and refers to the characteristic, often reddish and orange striped coloration of the anemone on both the column and tentacles.
The anemone can reach a size of up to 6 cm in diameter, appearing very flat when retracted.
Synonym: Stomphia diademon
Stomphia didemon is a small reddish, orange or brownish deep sea anemone in the family Actinostolidae and is known only from Alaska, British Columbia and Washington State, it is one of the largest anemones found in the deep sea.
The tentacles of the apple anemone are stubby rather than long and number at least 160 in adults.
The apple anemone has a broad column or base. But it is not immobile like most anemones. When threatened, it stretches and sways from side to side to break away from the bottom. Then it "swims" away by rapidly bending or curving its column or kicking its tentacles.
This species attaches to rocks and shells, the most common substrate being the shell of the horse mussel Modiolus modiolus, where it consumes planktonic material as a suspension feeder.
When attacked by one of its predators, such as the starfish (Dermasterias imbricata) or an individual of the nudibranch species Aeolidia papillosa or Eubranchus exiguus, it can release the grip of its disc and swim away.
If it succeeds in escaping, it attaches itself to a new substrate shortly thereafter; for this reason, the anemone has therefore been given the name "cowardly" or "swimming" anemone.
Naming:
The specific name "coccinea" means "scarlet" and refers to the characteristic, often reddish and orange striped coloration of the anemone on both the column and tentacles.
The anemone can reach a size of up to 6 cm in diameter, appearing very flat when retracted.
Synonym: Stomphia diademon
