Unidentified New Zealand anemone

[Steve Cook]

Hi there. I'm interested in finding out more about an image in the Advanced Aquarist's Online Magazine: Short Take: Prospective Livestock for the Temperate Marine Aquarium: A Photo Essay, May 2009. Image 19 (Unidentified New Zealand anemone making good use of its sweeper tentacles.). The credit only says it can from this web site. Can anyone tell me who took the image, and where the anemone was photographed?

Cheers
Steve Cook

[Steve Cook]

Now that the search function is working again, I think I've found it, page 5: http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=150891

[Amphiprion]

It is actually a corallimorph, likely in the genus Corynactis. They are common in many temperate habitats-- Pseudocorynactis is the more commonly seen tropical genus.

[Steve Cook]

Thanks for your suggestion, but are you sure? Most of the beasties in the photos are indeed Corynactis. In New Zealand we have 4 recorded species, by far the most abundant one is C. australis (prev. C. haddoni), and this species is likely to to be responsible for that magnificent tank - actually there is also the possibility that what we're currently calling C. australis may in fact be a species complex. The striped pale brown job that I'm interested in also has a very clear capitulum, and catch tentacales, which I though could be a diadumenid.

Thoughts?

[Amphiprion]

They don't appear to be diadumenids at first glance. Closer pictures may show differently, but most appear have rounded or balled acrospheres on the tentacles, which is usually indicative of corallimorphs.

Is there a particular picture that you suspect contains a diadumenid anemone?

[Steve Cook]

Yes, this wee beastie: http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2009/5/short_album/19_unidentified_new_zealand_anemone_making_good_us e_of_its_sweeper_tentacles_photo_by_www_aquariacen tral_com_.jpg/variant/medium

[kingwintergreen]

Looks similar to Metridium sp.

[Steve Cook]

It certainly does, though I believe (correct me if I'm wrong) Mimetridium and Metridium don't have catch tentacles.

[Amphiprion]

Yes, this wee beastie: http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2009/5/short_album/19_unidentified_new_zealand_anemone_making_good_us e_of_its_sweeper_tentacles_photo_by_www_aquariacen tral_com_.jpg/variant/medium


Ah, that makes much more sense. It does look more like Metridium sp. to me. The folds in the oral disc suggest this. The "curved" appearance of the column as well as the pronounced and distinct capitulum are also characteristic.

FWIW, Metridium can and do develop catch tentacles.