The ring-tentacle anemone (''Isanthus capensis'') 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
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 ...
Isanthidae
Isanthidae is a small family of sea anemones in the class Anthozoa
Anthozoa is a subphylum of marine invertebrates which includes the sea anemones, Scleractinia, stony corals and Alcyonacea, soft corals. Adult anthozoans are almost all attach ...
.
[Branch, G.M., Branch, M.L, Griffiths, C.L. and Beckley, L.E. 2010. ''Two Oceans: a guide to the marine life of southern Africa'' ]
Description
The ring-tentacle anemone grows up to 1 cm in diameter. It is a small solitary anemone with numerous short striped tentacles and having stripes radiating out from its mouth. It is usually brown or greenish and its body column is smooth.
[Jones, Georgina. ''A field guide to the marine animals of the Cape Peninsula.'' SURG, Cape Town, 2008. ]
Distribution
It has so far been found only on the Atlantic coast of the Cape Peninsula of South Africa. It appears to be
endemic
Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...
to this area, and lives from the intertidal zone down to about 5m under water.
Ecology
This anemone is found between rocks and on seaweeds. It feeds on plankton.
References
Animals described in 1938
Isanthidae
{{Actiniaria-stub