Snakelocks anemone

Biology

This anemone is very common in the most protected parts of the tidal zone. Unlike other anemones, this one cannot retract its long tentacles. So, to lessen its loss of water during low tide, it reduces the exposed area of its body. It lives in symbiosis with green algae (which give it its typical colouration) and for that reason it inhabits places close to the surface with plenty of sunlight. Besides obtaining nutrients from the algae living on its body, this anemone feeds on small fish and invertebrates, that it gathers using its venomous tentacles.

Curiosities

This species is eaten in some Mediterranean countries. In Sardinia, “orziadas” and also in southwestern Spain, in the Gulf of Cádiz region, as “ortiguillas de mar” (literally, "little sea nettles", because of its urticant tentacles), are deep-fried in olive oil.