Phylum: Cnidaria

Class: Anthozoa

Subclass: Hexacorallia

Order: Actiniaria

 

Norwegian: anemoner

(Lauvsnes - Nord-Trøndelag / 24 meters / 7.29.2009)

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The members of the Hexacorallia subclass may be solitary or colonial. The polyps are usually cylindrical with arms (septa) in multiples of six. Three well known orders of this subclass are stony corals, tube anemones and anemones.

Anemones are popular photo motives; they do not move, at least not too fast, they come in many vivid colors and most of them live on diveable depths. They usually prefer hard substrate, but are not very choosy. You may see them hanging on ropes, anchor chains or any other object that have been in the sea for a while.