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Read full entryStichodactyla mertensii
Merten's carpet sea anemone, Stichodactyla mertensii, is regarded as the largest sea anemone with a diameter of over 1 m,[2] the next largest being Heteractis magnifica which has longer tentacles. This species has an oral disc that can be described as more ovoid than circular that contours to the surrounding substrate and is attached to the substrate by adhesive verrucae, which are wart like projections.[3] Its blunt or pointed tentacles are uniformly shaped, and are only about 1–2 centimetres (0.39–0.79 in) long.[2] While this species can be confused with Stichodactyla gigantea and S. haddoni, they are most easily distinguished by habitat since the former two prefer sand while S. mertensii prefers rocky or coral substrate.[3] It contains obligate symbiotic zooxanthellae, and can serve as a host anemone to 17 separate fish species, the majority of which are anemonefish, with one damselfish.
Fish associated with S. mertensii[4][5] include
Recently, Amphiprion clarkii and Amphiprion sandaracinos were observed to coexist within one host anemone of Stichodactyla mertensii.[6]
References
- ^ "Stichodactyla mertensii Brandt, 1835". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 13 February 2008.
- ^ a b Entry at seadb.univpm.it
- ^ a b Fautin, D. G.; Allen, G. R. Anemone fishes and their host sea anemones. MN:Voyageur Press. 1994.
- ^ Fautin, Daphne G.; Allen, Gerald R.. 1992, revised ed. 1997. Anemone Fishes and Their Host Sea Anemones. Western Australian Museum. 160pp. and Entry from Fautin, Daphne G. 2006. Hexacorallians of the World.
- ^ Fenner, Bob Carpet Anemones in Captive Systems from The Conscientious Reef Aquarist
- ^ Bos, Arthur (2012). "Clownfishes Amphiprion clarkii and A. sandaracinos (Pomacentridae) coexist in the sea anemone Stichodactyla mertensii". Coral Reefs 30: 369. doi:10.1007/s00338-010-0713-3.
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