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Strawberry anemone

Corynactis californica

Description: The semi-transparent Strawberry anemone (Corynactis californica) is usually red (pinkish-red to dark red) but purple, brown, yellowish-orange or almost white colonies can be found. The transparent or white tentacles will not fully retract (bulb- or club-tipped).

Size: They are around one inch (2.5 cm) tall and in diameter. Colonies can reach widths of 66 feet (20.1 m).
Behavior: It is not a true anemone. It is a corallimorpharian, meaning they look like corals, but lack the exoskelton. It defends its territory by squeezing out filaments from its stomach through its mouth onto the nearby intruder which can kill unless the intruder retreats.

Diet: The diet of this plankton feeder includes crustaceans, larvae, copepods, and invertebrates.

Reproduction: The Strawberry anemone reproduces using an asexual method called “longitudinal division” essentially creating identical duplicates of itself that often cover areas of 10.76 square feet (one sqm) or more. It can also reproduce sexually by broadcasting sperm and eggs.

Habitat/range: This species lives off the west coast from British Columbia, down to Mexico. They prefer rocky shores with current from low intertidal zone.

Status: Common; not listed by IUCN.

Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Cnidaria
Class:Anthozoa
Order:Corallimorpharia
Family:Corallimorphidae
Genus:Corynactis
Species:californica