Giant Caribbean anemone (Condylactis gigantea)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Condylactis gigantea
- Common name
- Giant Caribbean anemone
- Category
- Cnidarians
- Family
- Actiniidae
- Genus
- Condylactis
- Size
- 15–30 cm
- Depth
- 1–30 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- coral-reef, seagrass-meadow
- Behaviours
- benthic, solitary
- Ocean zones
- Caribbean, Eastern Pacific, Mediterranean
Description
Condylactis gigantea reaches 30 cm diameter with tentacles deployed. Large Caribbean anemone (Actiniidae) with central disc pink-beige to cream-yellow, crown of long thick tentacles pink-beige to spotted white tipped with distinctive pink-purple to blue-purple tips. Lives from 1 to 30 m on Caribbean coral reefs and seagrass meadows, Florida to Venezuela. Hosts symbiotic cleaner shrimp (Periclimenes, Thor amboinensis), anemone crabs (Mithrax) and sometimes small fish. Iconic Caribbean dive photo subject, common and photogenic encounter.
Photo of Giant Caribbean anemone
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Giant Caribbean anemone?
- Giant Caribbean anemone (Condylactis gigantea) reaches 15–30 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Giant Caribbean anemone?
- Giant Caribbean anemone is found between 1–30 m deep.
- Is the Giant Caribbean anemone dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Giant Caribbean anemone?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Giant Caribbean anemone?
- Found in: Caribbean, Eastern Pacific, Mediterranean.
Other species in the family Actiniidae
- Anemonia viridis - Snakelocks anemone
- Actinia equina - Beadlet anemone
- Entacmaea quadricolor - Bubble-tip anemone
- Bunodactis verrucosa - Gem anemone
- Macrodactyla doreensis - Long tentacle anemone
- Actinia fragacea - Strawberry anemone
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 283419)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 2256741)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia