''Cerianthus filiformis'' is a

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

of tube-dwelling

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 ...

in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Cerianthidae Cerianthidae is a family of tube-dwelling anemones in the order Spirularia of the subclass Ceriantharia. Genera The World Register of Marine Species includes the following genera in the family: * ''Anthoactis'' Leloup, 1932 * ''Apiactis'' Bene ...

. It is found throughout the

tropical The tropics are the regions of Earth surrounding the Equator. They are defined in latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the Northern Hemisphere at N and the Tropic of Capricorn in the Southern Hemisphere at S. The tropics are also referred to ...

waters of the western Indo-Pacific Ocean.

Description

''C. filiformis'' resembles the

and has a stretched and muscularised body which can reach 35 cm. Its body has the shape of a large polyp with numerous mobile tentacles. (in French). The tint of the tentacles is variously white, green, orange or purple and the central tentacles may have a different coloration from the marginal tentacles.

Distribution and habitat

''C. filiformis'' is widespread throughout the

waters of the western Indo-Pacific Ocean. Tube dwelling anemones such as ''C. filiformis'' live in a

mucous Mucus ( ) is a slippery aqueous secretion produced by, and covering, mucous membranes. It is typically produced from cells found in mucous glands, although it may also originate from mixed glands, which contain both serous and mucous cells. It is ...

tube that they secrete in soft sand or sediment, unlike more typical anemones whose muscular foot holds on to rock or coral.

Behaviour and ecology

''C. filiformis'' feeds on all the small-sized and edible drifting food which pass within the reach of its tentacles. It protects itself from predators by retracting back into the tube, which can reach up to 100 cm in length. The animal shows only its tentacles to feed, usually at night time. The animal can withdraw into the tube for resting or if threatened. (in French).

References

External links

*http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=283795 *http://eol.org/pages/199380/details Cerianthidae Animals described in 1924 {{Anthozoa-stub