Nematostella vectensis

This species of sea anemone lives in salt marshes along the coast of the United Kingdom, as well as the east and west coasts of the United States. Populations have also been located in Nova Scotia, Canada.

The starlet sea anemone has a bulbous basal end and a contracting column (usually less than two cm but no more than six cm) in order to burrow into the mud. At the top of the column is an oral disk containing the mouth surrounded by two rings of tentacles - typically 16 but up to 20. Although the general color is a greyish white, recent food consumption may temporarily affect pigmentation.

The starlet sea anemone is believed to reproduce asexually year-round by dividing into halves, while sexual reproduction occurs during the summer and fall.

By pushing its basal end into the mud and contracting its column, this anemone burrows into fine mud in order to secure itself against water currents.

Also, like all members of the order Actiniaria, the starlet sea anemone is a solitary marine polyp.

This species is remarkably unselective in its food consumption; it eats mainly copepods and midge larvae. The tentacles trap prey, then the cilia beat downward creating a water flow helping pull the food from the oral disk into the gastrovascular cavity for consumption.

none known

none known

Although populations in North America are relatively stable, they are endangered in England as only four populations survive.

This is extremely vulnerable. Because many individuals congregate into the same localities, pollution, human intervention or habitat destruction can wipe out entire populations.

This species is a particularly good indicator of pollution because of its sensitivity to hypoxia (low levels of dissolved oxygen).