(Ingdalen - The Trondheim fjord / 2 meters / 12.19.2006)

Phylum: Cnidaria

Class: Anthozoa

Subclass: Hexacorallia

Order: Actiniaria

Suborder: Nynantheae

Family: Actiniidae

Scientific name: Actinia equina

 

Norwegian: Hesteaktinie

Distribution: This is a very common anemone along the entire Norwegian coastline. It can often be seen as small, jelly-like blobs, exposed by the low tide. It is rarely seen deeper than 10 meters, and is most frequent in intertidal pools. It is very robust and may survive large temperature variations as well as hours on dry land. For this reason it is a popular inhabitant in many aquariums.

Characteristics: This is a relatively small anemone. It may reach a height of 6 cm, a base diameter of 7 cm and oral disk diameter of 5 cm. In Norway red seems to be the most frequent color, but green, violet and brown individuals exist as well.

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