''Cryptodendrum'' is a genus of

sea anemone Sea anemones are a group of predation, predatory marine invertebrates of the order (biology), order Actiniaria. Because of their colourful appearance, they are named after the ''Anemone'', a terrestrial flowering plant. Sea anemones are classifi ...

s in the family

Thalassianthidae Thalassianthidae is a family of sea anemones that contains the genera ''Actineria'', ''Cryptodendrum,'' ''Heterodactyla'', and ''Thalassianthus''.World Register of Marine Species. (2016). Thalassianthidae Milne Edwards, 1857. http://www.marinesp ...

. It is monotypic with a single species, ''Cryptodendrum adhaesivum'', also commonly known as the adhesive anemone, pizza anemone, and nap-edged anemone. Like all

symbiotic Symbiosis (from Greek , , "living together", from , , "together", and , bíōsis, "living") is any type of a close and long-term biological interaction between two different biological organisms, be it mutualistic, commensalistic, or parasit ...

anemones it hosts '' zooxanthellae'', symbiotic algae that help feed their host.

Description

This anemone grows to a size of 30 centimeters and is distinguished by its colored, beaded and waving curved edge. It has two different forms of tentacles. At the center of the oral disc, it has narrow, short, about 5 mm long, tentacles that are branched with five or more "fingers", like a small, inflated rubber glove. The tentacles are extremely sticky. The tentacles at the edge have a bubble-like thickening of about one millimeter diameter at the end. The two types of tentacles are usually different colors.

Similar species

The two different tentacles and pizza crust type edge distinguish ''C. adhaesivum'' from superficially similar ''

Stichodactyla ''Stichodactyla'' is a genus of sea anemones, of the family Stichodactylidae. They are host anemones, which maintain a relationship mutualistic with other animals, in their case with crabs of the genus '' Mithraculus'', shrimp of the g ...

'' specimens.

Distribution

''C. adhaesivum'' is widely distributed being found in tropical waters from the Indian Ocean to the Western Pacific.

Symbionts

The relationship between anemonefish and their host sea anemones is highly nested in structure. This anemone however is able to survive without anemonefish and most specimens are found without anemonefish. As the single hosted anemonefish, ''

Amphiprion clarkii ''Amphiprion clarkii'', known commonly as Clark's anemonefish and yellowtail clownfish, is a marine fish belonging to the family Pomacentridae, the clownfishes and damselfishes. Characteristics of anemonefish Clownfish or anemonefish are fis ...

'', is the extreme generalist, it may be that ''C. adhaesivum'' is a marginal host tolerated only by the least selective fish and only when no other host is available. ''C. adhaesivum'' is also associated with juvenile ''

Dascyllus trimaculatus The threespot dascyllus (''Dascyllus trimaculatus''), also known as the domino damsel or simply domino, is a species of damselfish from the family Pomacentridae. It is native to the Indo-Pacific from the Red Sea and East Africa, to the Pitcairn ...

'' the threespot dascyllus. A number of other species are associated with C. adhaesivum, however the relationship is commensal rather than mutual as the anemone does not appear to benefit from the association. These species are * ''

Neopetrolisthes maculatus ''Neopetrolisthes maculatus'' is a species of porcelain crab Porcelain crabs are decapod crustaceans in the widespread family Porcellanidae, which superficially resemble true crabs. They have flattened bodies as an adaptation for living in ...

'' a porcelain crab * Shrimp from the Periclimenes genus * ''

Thor amboinensis ''Thor amboinensis'', commonly known as the squat shrimp or sexy shrimp, is a species of shrimp found across the Indo-West Pacific and in parts of the Atlantic Ocean. It lives symbiotically on corals, sea anemones and other marine invertebrates ...

'' the squat or sexy shrimp

Gallery

''C. adhaesivum'' and symbionts Image:Amphiprion Dascyllus Cryptodendrum.jpg, ''Amphiprion clarkii'' & ''Dascyllus trimaculatus'' Image:Neopetrolisthes maculatus on Cryptodendrum adhaesivum.jpg, ''Neopetrolisthes maculatus'' (porcelain crab)

References

External links

{{Taxonbar, from1=Q18510894, from2=Q1049308 Thalassianthidae Animals described in 1877 Monotypic cnidarian genera