Page 55 - Caribbean Reef Life Demo

Anemones are often dif cult to identify on a dive because of the variety of colors and patterns that each species can display. ictured above is a rarely seen color variety of the more common Club-Tipped Anemone.
Some anemones seem to produce their own light, known as uorescence, as seen with the Beaded Anemone pictured on the left. This is caused by a protein growing inside the esh of their tentacles. It is thought to be protection from the harmful ultraviolet radiation in bright sunlight, a kind of biological sunscreen that some anemones can apply when needed.
Anemones have a multitude of ways to feed themselves. Tentacles can simply grab food as it oats by. Many live in a symbiotic relationship with single-celled algae that live in their tissues, just like their close cousins the corals. The algae have a safe place to grow, while the anemone gets the oxygen and sugars produced by photosynthesis. If needed, anemones can also absorb vital nutrients directly from the seawater. Most anemones are able to retract their tentacles if threatened. Some species, such as the Sun Anemone, can possibly live to be over 100 years old.
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