Name: Carpet anemone
Scientific Name: Stichodactyla haddoni
Family: Stichodactylidae
Group: Anemones, corals and jellyfish
Class: Invertebrates
Size: 51-100 cm.
This large anemone of clear tropical waters lives among corals. Its greenish colouring is due in part to the microscopic algae (zooxanthellae) that live on their body. In this symbiosis, the algae benefit from protection, while the anemone obtains some nutritive substances produced by the algae. The carpet anemone also offers protection to clownfish, which are immune to the venom of its tentacles. This is used to capture small animals on which the anemone feeds. This is the largest anemone of its family, capable of growing to 1 metre wide!
