Project Description
Tricolor Anemone
Calliactis tricolor
Range/Geographical Distribution: North Carolina to the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean.
Habitat: Grows on the shells of hermit crabs, box crabs, and snails; also attaches to shell rubble and other hard surfaces.
Description: A conical-shaped anemone with up to 200 short tentacles around a violet colored mouth. Body tan in color with several cream stripes.
Size: Can reach two inches in diameter and height.
Food: Omnivores; eat crustaceans and algae.
Breeding: Can reproduce asexually by longitudinal fission. Scientists assume it also reproduces sexually but this behavior has not been observed.
Predators: Stinging cells discourage most predators.
Conservation Status: No legal status.
Interesting Facts: Tricolor anemones form a symbiotic relationship with crabs. The crab provides movement and food scrapes to the anemone and the anemone provides protection and camouflage to for the crab.
On the Coast: Tricolor anemones are common along the Georgia coast but are usually seen as a small gelatinous ball washed up on the beach.