Preserved Invertebrates >> Cnidarians >> Sea Anemone

Named after a terrestrial flower, the anemone, sea anemones form a group of water-dwelling, filter feeding animals of the order Actinaria. As a cnidarian, the sea anemone is closely related to coral and jellyfish. Other close relations to the sea anemone are the solitary, tube-dwelling anemones and the hydras.

An anemone is basically the typical polyp: a small sac, attached to the bottom by an adhesive foot, with a column shaped body ending in an oral disc. The mouth is in the middle of the oral disc, surrounded by tentacles armed with many cnidocytes, which are unique cells that function as a defense and as a means to capture prey.