Order: Actiniaria
Belonging to the group cnidarians like jellyfish and corals, Sea Anemones are soft-bodied, primarily sedentary marine animals resembling flowers. They can be found attached to hard surfaces such as rocks and boulders in the tidal zone of all oceans.
Sea anemones are equipped with stinging cells (nematocysts) as a defense mechanism and are known to be quite brutal when it comes to their predators. These creatures are mesmerizing to look at for their vibrancy and movement but only from a safe distance. Yet some animals have adapted to live among the tentacles of the anemones. Their most well-known alliance is with clownfish. Because of a protective mucous coating, clownfish are immune to an anemone’s stinging cells.
Distribution: Worldwide data recorded only 10 sea anemone species have evolved to host symbiotic anemonefish whereas Papua New Guinea is the only location to have all 10 anemone species with hosting capability. Perhentian is the only island in Southeast Asia to home six out of 10 species of hosting sea anemones.
