Species Type:
Invertebrates
Common Name(s):
Mat anemone
Size:
Mat anemones grow to large sizes over dead corals, rocks and other hard surfaces.
Diet:
Using its polyp tentacles, mat anemones will catch and eat smaller marine organisms that drift by. They also have a special algae—called zooxanthellae– in their tissues that photosynthesize the sun's rays into energy/food.
Range & Habitat:
In the Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic ocean and Caribbean Sea, mat anemones grow in shallow reef environments, anywhere from one to four meters deep.
Details:
Mat anemones can be various colors including blue, green, pink and yellow. They form large colonies and their polyps can reproduce both sexually and asexually, allowing the colonies to expand quickly. This anemone secretes a toxin that is often used as protection from predators.