Beaded sea anemone (Heteractis aurora)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Heteractis aurora
- Common name
- Beaded sea anemone
- Category
- Corals
- Family
- Heteractidae
- Genus
- Heteractis
- Size
- 15–30 cm
- Depth
- 1–40 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- sand, coral-reef
- Behaviours
- sessile, symbiotic, venomous
- Ocean zones
- Asian Pacific, Indian Ocean & Red Sea
Description
Heteractis aurora reaches 30 cm tentacles. Anemone with very characteristic elongated cylindrical tentacles: greenish-beige skin with striking orange-red transverse rings (hence aurora). Foot buried in sand, only tentacles visible. Lives from 1 to 40 m in sandy areas adjacent to coral reefs of entire Indo-Pacific. Listed LC. Host of Amphiprion chrysopterus, A. tricinctus, A. akindynos. Less seen but highly graphic photo subject, frequent company of juvenile clownfish.
Photo of Beaded sea anemone
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Beaded sea anemone?
- Beaded sea anemone (Heteractis aurora) reaches 15–30 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Beaded sea anemone?
- Beaded sea anemone is found between 1–40 m deep.
- Is the Beaded sea anemone dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Beaded sea anemone?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Beaded sea anemone?
- Found in: Asian Pacific, Indian Ocean & Red Sea.
Other species in the genus Heteractis
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 290088)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 5184187)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia