Friday 17 May
Jewel anemone (Corynactis viridis)
Top facts
- The mouth of the jewel anemone is surrounded by up to 100 tentacles.
- Jewel anemones are often found in huge groups on suitable substrates.
Jewel anemone fact file
- Description
- Biology
- Range
- Habitat
- Status
- Threats
- Conservation
- Find out more
- Glossary
- References
- Print factsheet
Jewel anemone description
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Cnidaria |
| Class | Anthozoa |
| Order | Corallimorpharia |
| Family | Corallimorphidae |
| Genus | Corynactis (1) |
The jewel anemone (Corynactis viridis) is so-called because of its spectacular colouration. Individuals may be bright green, orange, red, pink or white and the tentacles and their tips are typically contrasting colours (3). The body of this anemone, correctly known as the ‘column’ is smooth, and has a rather squat appearance (3). Up to 100 tentacles, each terminating in a small swelling, are arranged in three rings around the mouth, which is situated at the top of a small cone (4).
TopJewel anemone biology
This anemone is often found in very large aggregations in suitable habitats, particularly on vertical surfaces (2). It reproduces asexually by means of ‘longitudinal fission’, in which means that individuals spilt in half. Sometimes this fission is not complete and two anemones may remain partially attached (5).
TopJewel anemone range
This anemone is common on the south and western coasts of Britain (4) and reaches the northern extreme of its range in the Shetland Isles (3). It is found as far south as the Mediterranean (4).
More »
Species with a similar range
|
You can view distribution information for this species at the National Biodiversity Network Gateway. |
Jewel anemone habitat
Found on rocks in shaded places such as beneath overhangs and in crevices on the lower shore (2), extending down to the sublittoral to depths of about 80 m (3).
More »
Top
Species found in a similar habitat
Jewel anemone status
Not threatened (2).
TopJewel anemone threats
This species is not threatened.
TopJewel anemone conservation
Not relevant.
|
|
There may be further information about this species available via the National Biodiversity Network Gateway. |
Find out more
For more on this species see:
Ager, O.E.D. (2001) Corynactis viridis. Jewel anemone Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Sub-programme. [On-line]. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. [cited 27/11/2003]. Available on-line at:
http://www.marlin.ac.uk/species/Corynactisviridis.htm
Authentication
This information is awaiting authentication by a species expert, and will be updated as soon as possible. If you are able to help please contact:
arkive@wildscreen.org.uk
Glossary
- Asexually
- Of asexual reproduction: reproduction that does not involve the formation of sex cells (‘gametes’). In many species, asexual reproduction can occur by fission (or in plants ‘vegetative reproduction’); part of the organism breaks away and develops into a separate individual. Some animals, including vertebrates can develop from unfertilised eggs, this process, known as parthenogenesis gives rise to offspring that are genetically identical to the parent.
- Sublittoral
- A marine zone between the littoral zone (the shallow zone where light reaches the bed, subject to submersion and exposure by tides) and depths of around 200m.
References
-
National Biodiversity Network Species Dictionary (September, 2003)
http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nbn/ -
Ager, O.E.D. (2001) Corynactis viridis. Jewel anemone Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Sub-programme. [On-line]. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. (November, 2003)
http://www.marlin.ac.uk/species/Corynactisviridis.htm - Fish, J.D. and Fish, S. (1989) A student’s guide to the seashore. Unwin Hyman Ltd., London.
- Gibson, R., Hextall, B. and Rogers, A. (2001) Photographic Guide to the Sea & Shore Life of Britain and North-west Europe. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
-
Picton, B.E. and Morrow, C.C. (2002) [In] Encyclopaedia of Marine Life of Britain and Ireland. (September, 2003)
http://www.habitas.org.uk/marinelife/species.asp?item=D13570
This species is featured in:
This is a UK rocky shore species. Visit our habitat page to learn more.
Sign up to our newsletter
Get the latest wild news direct to your inbox.
Get involved
ARKive relies on its media donors to donate photos and videos. Can you help? There are plenty of other ways you can get involved too!
Wednesday 15 May
Guest Blog: Join Our SOS! Campaign to Help Polar Bears with Polar Bears International
Monday 13 May
X
Close
Close
Image credit
Jewel anemones
© Paul Kay / gettyimages.com
Getty Images
101 Bayham Street
London
NW1 0AG
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0) 800 376 7981
sales@gettyimages.com
http://www.gettyimages.com
X
Close
Close
Link to this photo
Embed this ARKive thumbnail link by copying and pasting the code below.
Terms of Use - The displayed thumbnail may be used as a link from your website to ARKive's online content for private, scientific, conservation or educational purposes only. It may NOT be used within Apps.
Read more about
X
Close
Close
MyARKive
MyARKive offers the scrapbook feature to signed-up members, allowing you to organize your favourite ARKive images and videos and share them with friends.
X
Close
Close
Terms and Conditions of Use of Materials
Copyright in this website and materials contained on this website (Material) belongs to Wildscreen or its licensors.
Visitors to this website (End Users) are entitled to:
- view the contents of, and Material on, the website;
- download and retain copies of the Material on their personal systems in digital form in low resolution for their own personal use;
- teachers, lecturers and students may incorporate the Material in their educational material (including, but not limited to, their lesson plans, presentations, worksheets and projects) in hard copy and digital format for use within a registered educational establishment, provided that the integrity of the Material is maintained and that copyright ownership and authorship is appropriately acknowledged by the End User.
End Users shall not copy or otherwise extract, alter or manipulate Material other than as permitted in these Terms and Conditions of Use of Materials.
Additional use of flagged material
Green flagged material 
Certain Material on this website (Licence 4 Material) displays a green flag next to the Material and is available for not-for-profit conservation or educational use. This material may be used by End Users, who are individuals or organisations that are in our opinion not-for-profit, for their not-for-profit conservation or not-for-profit educational purposes. Low resolution, watermarked images may be copied from this website by such End Users for such purposes. If you require high resolution or non-watermarked versions of the Material, please contact Wildscreen with details of your proposed use.
Creative commons material
Certain Material on this website has been licensed to Wildscreen under a Creative Commons Licence. These images are clearly marked with the Creative Commons buttons and may be used by End Users only in the way allowed by the specific Creative Commons Licence under which they have been submitted. Please see http://creativecommons.org for details.
Any other use
Please contact the copyright owners directly (copyright and contact details are shown for each media item) to negotiate terms and conditions for any use of Material other than those expressly permitted above. Please note that many of the contributors to ARKive are commercial operators and may request a fee for such use.
Save as permitted above, no person or organisation is permitted to incorporate any copyright material from this website into any other work or publication in any format (this includes but is not limited to: websites, Apps, CDs, DVDs, intranets, extranets, signage, digital communications or on printed materials for external or other distribution). Use of the Material for promotional, administrative or for-profit purposes is not permitted.