Jewel Anemone

Cnidarian

Identification & Biology

• IdentificationA tiny, colonial anemone with a translucent body and a crown of tentacles tipped with bright, jewel-like colours. Each polyp has a spherical tip (acrosphere) on each tentacle. Colour combinations include pink, green, orange, white, red, and purple.
• SizeIndividual polyps up to 1 cm diameter. Colonies can cover large areas of rock.
• Social HabitColonial. Forms dense carpets on shaded rock surfaces, with individual polyps packed closely together. Each polyp is a separate animal.
• HabitatShaded rocky walls, cave ceilings, and overhangs. Requires low-light environments.
• Depth5 to 80 m. Most commonly found in cave and overhang environments.
• Feeds OnPlankton and small organic particles captured by the tentacles.
• DistributionEastern Atlantic from the British Isles to West Africa, and throughout the Mediterranean Sea. Present in Maltese waters in suitable cave habitats.
• DescriptionCorynactis viridis is one of the most spectacular sights in Mediterranean caves and overhangs. Dense carpets of tiny, brilliantly coloured polyps cover rock surfaces, creating a jewel-like mosaic. Despite its common name, it is not a true anemone but a corallimorpharian. The colour variation between neighbouring polyps is extraordinary, with multiple colours often found within a single colony.