The Jewel Anemone, scientifically known as Corynactis viridis, is a type of marine creature that belongs to the order Corallimorpharia.
Jewel Anemone is similar to a sea anemone or a scleractinian coral polyp in body shape. This brightly colored creature was first described by George Allman, an Irish naturalist, in 1846.
What Does the Jewel Anemone Look Like?
The Jewel Anemone has a smooth, cylindrical column that’s wider at the base and oral disc than in the center.
The base can grow up to a diameter of 10 mm (about 0.4 in). The base’s outline tends to be ragged because it divides by a method called longitudinal fission.
What Are the Colors of The Jewel Anemone?
The color of Jewel Anemone can vary greatly. The column, tentacles, and knobbed tips can be different colors such as white, pink, orange, red, and green.
The oral disc is usually translucent and can be plain or splashed with white.
One common form of the Jewel Anemone is emerald green with brown tentacles and crimson tips, along with a crimson marginal ring on the oral disc.
Where Can We Find the Jewel Anemone?
Corynactis viridis, or the Jewel Anemone, is found in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.
Jewel Anemone’s habitat range includes Scotland, Ireland, the western and southern coasts of England and Wales, southwestern continental Europe, and countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea.
What Are the Preferred Habitats of The Jewel Anemone?
The Jewel Anemone prefers dimly lit locations on rock, especially on vertical rock faces, overhangs, and caves.
Jewel Anemone often forms dense patches and is found from the lower shore to the sublittoral zone, reaching depths of up to 80 m (260 ft).
How Does the Jewel Anemone Reproduce?
Like many marine creatures, Jewel Anemone reproduces both through ordinary sexual reproduction and a process called longitudinal fission.
In longitudinal fission, the two sides of the anemone pull apart from each other, tearing the anemone in half. After this, both fragments heal and grow to become new individuals.
What Happens During Longitudinal Fission?
Longitudinal fission is a type of asexual reproduction. During this process, the Jewel Anemone splits into two parts. Each part then heals and grows into a completely new individual.
This process allows the Jewel Anemone to reproduce and grow its population quickly.
Scientific Classification
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Cnidaria |
| Class: | Hexacorallia |
| Order: | Corallimorpharia |
| Family: | Corallimorphidae |
| Genus: | Corynactis |
| Scientific Name: | Corynactis viridis |
| Also Known As: | Jewel Anemone |
| Conservation Status: | Unknown |