Symbiotic anemone

Symbiosis anemones are sea ​​anemones (Anthozoa) that live in symbiosis with other living beings . The best known is the symbiosis with the anemonefish ( Amphiprion ).

The symbiotic anemones offer the anemonefish, all of which are bad swimmers, protection from predatory fish. The anemonefish also protect their symbiotic partners from predators, e.g. B. Butterfly fishing . Assumptions that the fish would feed their partners could not be confirmed, but symbiotic anemones whose fish partners have been caught will soon be eaten by butterfly or filefish . The anemones become very large: 30 centimeters to 1.5 meters in diameter. All symbiotic anemones also harbor zooxanthellae , symbiotic algae that contribute to the host's diet. Symbiosis anemones live in the tropical area of ​​the Indo-Pacific in the shallow water of the coral reefs .

Bubble anemone (Entacmaea quadricolor) with red sea anemonefish ( Amphiprion bicinctus ) and three-point Prussian fish ( Dascyllus trimaculatus )

species

Species that host anemonefish and / or other species. This group includes ten species, not all of which are closely related.

• Family: Actiniidae
  • Bubble anemone , copper anemone (Entacmaea quadricolor)
  • Corkscrew anemone (Macrodactyla doreensis)
• Family: Stichodactylidae
  • Glass bead anemone (Heteractis aurora)
  • Leather anemone (Heteractis crispa)
  • Magnificent anemone (Heteractis magnifica)
  • Hawaiian anemone (Heteractis malu)
  • Giant anemone (Stichodactyla gigantea)
  • Carpet anemone (Stichodactyla haddoni)
  • Mertens anemone (Stichodactyla mertensii)
• Family: Thalassinthidae
  • Knob-Edge Anemone (Cryptodendrum adhaesivum)

Other sea anemone species living in symbiosis or in a commensal relationship:

• The wax Rose ( Anemonia sulcata ) is the host for the bucchich's goby ( Gobius bucchichii ) which Anemone crab ( Inaachus phalangium ) and the opossum Leptomysis mediterranea .
• The Caribbean golden rose ( Condylactis gigantea ) is a symbiotic partner of crustaceans such as the partner shrimp .
• Urticina lofotensis servesas a sleeping placefor smaller specimens of Oxylebius pictus .
• The mantle common ( Adamsia palliata ) and the parasitic rose ( Calliactis parasitica ) colonize snail shells, which in turn are used as shells by hermit crabs . The main advantage for the anemone is the mobility of the crab.

literature

• Daphne G. Fautin, Gerald R. Allen : Anemonefish and their hosts . Melle: Tetra-Verlag 1994, ISBN 3-89356-171-4

Web links

• Daphne G. Fautin, Gerald R. Allen: Field Guide to Anemone Fishes and Their Host Sea Anemones ( Memento of January 7, 2012 in the Internet Archive )
• Anemones FAQ (pdf; 6.88 MB)