Urticina piscivora

Urticina piscivora
Urticina piscivora at the Vancouver Aquarium
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Cnidaria
Class:Anthozoa
Order:Actiniaria
Family:Actiniidae
Genus:Urticina
Species: U. piscivora
Binomial name
Urticina piscivora
(Sebens & Laakso, 1978)[1]
Synonyms
  • Tealia piscivora Sebens & Laakso, 1978

Urticina piscivora, common names fish-eating anemone and fish-eating urticina,[2] is a northeast Pacific species of sea anemone in the family Actiniidae.[1]

Description

Urticina piscivora at 31 m (102 ft) depth in Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary, California

Urticina piscivora is a large anemone, growing to a maximum height of around 20 cm (8 in) and 10 cm (4 in) in diameter. The column is bright red in colour. The acontia is absent, but it has tubercles. These are not white and are arranged in circumferential rows. Normally they do not accumulate debris such as shells and sand.[2]

This species may be confused with Urticina crassicornis. Although they may both have a red column, the tentacles of U. crassicornis normally have transverse bands, and olive green blotches are commonly found on the column.[2]

Distribution

This species occurs from Alaska in the north, down to La Jolla, California in the south.[2]

Habitat

Urticina piscivora is almost always found in the subtidal zone. It attaches itself to rocky prominences in locations with a substantial current flowing past.[2]

Diet and behaviour

As its name suggests, this species is capable of capturing and consuming small fishes and shrimp. However, Oxylebius pictus (the painted greenling) and Lebbeus grandimanus (candy stripe shrimp) have the ability to remain among the tentacles without being harmed.[2][3]

References

  1. 1 2 Fautin, D. (2014). "Urticina piscivora (Sebens & Laakso, 1978)". World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved August 8, 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Cowles, Dave (2005). "Urticina piscivora (Sebens and Laakso, 1977)". Rosario Beach Marine Laboratory. Retrieved August 8, 2014.
  3. ↑ Cowles, Dave (2006). "Lebbeus grandimanus (Brazhnikov, 1907)". Rosario Beach Marine Laboratory. Retrieved January 29, 2015.


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