Stichodactyla gigantea

Giant carpet anemone
Stichodactlya gigantea with false percula clownfish, Amphiprion ocellaris
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Anthozoa
Order: Actiniaria
Family: Stichodactylidae
Genus: Stichodactyla
Species: S. gigantea
Binomial name
Stichodactyla gigantea
(Forskål, 1775)[1]

Stichodactyla gigantea, commonly known as the giant carpet anemone[2] is a species of sea anemone that lives in the Indo-Pacific area, with a diameter usually no larger than 50 centimetres (1.6 ft) and a maximum of 80 centimetres (2.6 ft).[3] It can be kept in an aquarium but is a very challenging species to keep alive and healthy for more than 3–5 years.

Ecology

S. gigantea resides on shallow seagrass beds or sand flats around 8 centimetres (3.1 in) deep (at low tide).[4] Most anemones are treated as sessile, but the ones inhabited by anemonefish are in fact motile.[5] Zooxanthellae are obligate symbionts within the anemone.

S. gigantea hosts 7 different species of anemonefish

Juvenile Dascyllus trimaculatus also associate with S. gigantea.[5]

Aquarium trade

S. gigantea is uncommon in the aquarium trade, because it is very hard to keep alive, and is simply not available in the majority of locations.

References

  1. Fautin, D. (2010). "Stichodactlya gigantea (Forskål, 1775)". World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 2011-12-23.
  2. Fenner, Robert M. (1998). The Conscientious Marine Aquarist: A Commonsense Handbook for Successful Saltwater Hobbyists. Shelburne, VT: Microcosm Ltd.
  3. "Freshmarine.com: Carpet anemone". Retrieved 2 October 2013.
  4. Mitchell, Jeremy S. (2003). "Mobility of Stichodactlya gigantea sea anemones and implications for resident false clown anemonefish, Amphiprion ocellaris". Environmental Biology of Fishes. 66: 85–90. doi:10.1023/a:1023286009054.
  5. 1 2 Fautin, Daphne G.; Allen, Gerald R. (1997). Field Guide to Anemone Fishes and Their Host Sea Anemones. Western Australian Museum. ISBN 9780730983651. Archived from the original on 14 April 2015.
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