General Description
Body and tentacles red with blue specialised structures (acrorhagi) around the edge of the column. Column up to 4 cm wide.
Biology
Waratah Anemones defend their own territory by attacking intruders with repeated strikes from their acrorhagi (outgrowths from the body margin). The acrorhagi have many stinging capsules (nematocysts), which are filled with toxin.
Distribution
New Zealand. South-eastern Australian coasts.
Habitat
Rocky reef, high intertidal rocky shore in crevices, to depth of 1 m.
More Information
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Animal Type
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Animal SubType
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Brief Id
Red body and tentacles, blue specialised tentacles.
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Colours
Red, Blue
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Habitats
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Diet
Carnivore
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Diet Categories
Crustaceans
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Endemicity
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Commercial
No
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Conservation Statuses
CITES: Not listed, FFG Threatened List: Not listed, DSE Advisory List: Not listed, IUCN Red List: Not listed
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Depths
Shore (0-1 m), Shallow (1-30 m)
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Water Column Locations
On or near seafloor
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Taxon Name
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Scientific Author
Farquhar, 1898
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Common Name
Waratah Anemone
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Phylum
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Class
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Subclass
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Order
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Suborder
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Family
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Genus
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Species Name
tenebrosa
