Beadlet anemone  (Actinia equina)

The beadlet anemone is extremely well-adapted to life on the shore, and is able to withstand desiccation and fluctuations in temperature (2). Prey is caught with the stinging tentacles and passed to the mouth (3). Although often thought of as sessile animals, they are able to move by sliding the base along the substratum. They have even been shown to slowly move away from predators such as sea-slugs when facing attack (2). Amazingly, they are even aggressive to neighbouring beadlet anemones. When the tentacles of two adjacent anemones come into contact, one will sting the other, leading to the other individual being forced to move away (1).

Beadlet anemones are either male or female, but it is not yet understood if sexual reproduction occurs. Both sexes are known to brood offspring internally before giving birth to live young. It is thought that the offspring are produced asexually by a process of internal ‘budding'. However, some experts believe that sexual reproduction leading to pelagic larvae may take place in some situations (2).