The brooding anemone, ''Halianthella annularis'', is a
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of ...
of
sea anemone in the
family
Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...
Halcampidae
Halcampidae is a family of sea anemones. Members of this family usually live with their column buried in sand or other soft substrates.
Genera
Genera in the family include:
* '' Acthelmis'' Lütken, 1875
* '' Cactosoma'' Danielssen, 1890
* '' C ...
,.
[Branch, G.M., Branch, M.L, Griffiths, C.L. and Beckley, L.E. 2010. ''Two Oceans: a guide to the marine life of southern Africa'' ]
Description
The brooding anemone is a pale, fragile-looking anemone, having 24 long, transparent
tentacle
In zoology, a tentacle is a flexible, mobile, and elongated organ present in some species of animals, most of them invertebrates. In animal anatomy, tentacles usually occur in one or more pairs. Anatomically, the tentacles of animals work main ...
s.
[Jones, Georgina. ''A field guide to the marine animals of the Cape Peninsula.'' SURG, Cape Town, 2008. ]
Distribution
It is found only around the
South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring count ...
n coast, from Lamberts Bay to Cape Agulhas.
Ecology
This anemone is found subtidally down to at least 20m under water. It favours sheltered areas and overhangs.
Juveniles are brooded in a fold of the skin on the column of the parent.
References
Halcampidae
Animals described in 1938
{{Actiniaria-stub