The Magnificent Sea Anemone (Heteractis magnifica) is a marine (saltwater) anemone in the Stichodactylidae family. It is also known as the Ritteri Anemone.
The Magnificent Sea Anemone has a flared oral (mouth) disc with tentacles around it in concentric circles. It is light-beige to white in colour. The tips of the tentacles look like fingers. The column, which is usually hidden, can be bright pink, blue, green, red, purple, or brown.
It grows to 20-50 centimetres (8-20 inches) in diameter. The tentacles are about 8 centimetres (3 inches) long.
It is found in the Indo-Pacific Ocean, from the eastern coast of Africa, to the Red Sea, Polynesia, Japan, and to Australia.
It feeds through photosynthesis, but it can also use its tentacles to stun and immobilize small fish and bring them to its mouth to eat.
It is a solitary species.
It can divide itself into two individuals when it reproduces, separating from the foot or mouth.
Location of photograph: Aquarium de Paris-Cinéaqua, France
Photographer: Martina Nicolls
Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM