Some experts formerly classified this species as a variety of Anemonia sulcata.
On the shores of small pools, the presence of Anemonia viridis thrives so greatly that it keeps other organisms out of the area.
US Federal List: no special status
CITES: no special status
The snakelocks anemone does not adversely affect humans.
The snakelocks anemone does not have a positive benefit for humans.
Anemonia viridis is host to several symbiotic relationships. A majid spider crab, Inachus phalangium, and A. viridis are commensal. The anemone provides protection for the spider crab. The crab is immune to the possibly dangerous sting. Another commensal relationship includes Bucchichi's goby, Gobius bucchichi which lives in the tentacles of the snakelocks anemone without being harmed. The presence of the zooxanthellae has been shown to improve long term survival for A. viridis. As the zooxanthellae provides food, the anemone provides nitrogen. Without this mutualistic interaction neither species would flourish.
Mutualist Species:
Commensal/Parasitic Species:
Having some of the longest tentacles proves to be an advantage for these planktonivorous and carnivorous food gathers. The tentacles surround the mouth, sweeping the ocean water searching for planktonic and benthic crustaceans. During times of starvation, sea anemones will release their basal disc to move to new locations in search of better feeding areas. Most sea anemones do not consume large gastropod molluscs, but they are one of the main staples for the snakelocks anemone. Having over 200 tentacles increases the surface area. The large surface area is proportional to the size of the prey that can be captured. They feast on all types of small fish and palaemonid prawns. Living in symbiosis with the photosynthetic algae-zooxanthellae seems to produce food and also remove waste products. After ingesting a meal, the snakelocks anemone increases the amount of oxygen it consumes because the zooxanthaellae produces oxygen as a by-product of its photosynthesis. Having both long tentacles and zooxanthellae algae provides two ways of food intake. Bacteria that live in the coelenteron breaks down the organic detritus for the anemone, but the detritus is a minor component of the anemone's overall food intake.
To capture its' food, the anemone uses the stinging power in its' tentacles. The sweeping tentacles capture food, and then transport it to the mouth by ciliary currents. Sometimes the unfortunate prey wanders mistakenly into the paralyzing tentacles or a tidal wave bring in new food specimens. Inside the tentacles are cnidocyte cells. The cnidocytes contain the nematocysts that are the stinging capsules. The nematocysts respond only when both stimuli occurs-the combination of touch and food extract. As the cnidocytes paralyze the prey, the movement in the tentacles brings the food through the mouth for extra-cellular digestion. Ammino acids and glucose can be directly absorbed from the sea water by the ectodermal cells on the tentacles.
Animal Foods: fish; mollusks; zooplankton
Plant Foods: phytoplankton
Other Foods: detritus
Primary Diet: carnivore (Piscivore , Eats non-insect arthropods, Molluscivore ); omnivore ; planktivore
The snakelocks anemone, Anemonia viridis, is found in shallow water throughout the Mediterranean Sea and north along Portugal, Spain, and France to the southern and western coasts of Great Britain. It may also occur along the African coast south of the Straits of Gibraltar.
Biogeographic Regions: atlantic ocean (Native ); mediterranean sea (Native )
Snakelocks anemones live best attached to the bottom in shallow salt water and intertidal pools. These anemones have been found as far down as 20 meters, but are rare below 10-12 meters. They compete for space with Anemonia rustica at the 10 to 12 meter line, so living above this line avoids conflict with other species and positions them closer to the sunlight. The high intensity sunlight near the surface provides energy for their symbiotic algae (called zooxanthellae). Around the British coast these anemones attach themselves to rocks, blades of eel-grass, or kelp.
Range depth: 20 (high) m.
Habitat Regions: temperate ; saltwater or marine
Aquatic Biomes: benthic ; coastal
Other Habitat Features: intertidal or littoral
The radially symmetrical snakelocks anemone, A. viridis, is distinguished by its long greenish tentacles. The green coloration is due to the photosynthetic zooxanthellae algae growing in the tentacles' tissues. Without the chlorophyll of the algae, the anemone would appear gray or light brown. Sometimes the tentacle tips are purple. The snakelocks anemone has some of the longest tentacles of all sea anemones. With up to over 200 sticky tentacles, the snakelocks anemone grows to 20 cm across and eight cm tall. The tentacles are lined with venomous stinging cells called cnidocysts.
Underneath the mass of tentacles grows the polyp body, which is a tubular structure. The mouth lies imbedded between the tentacles. The mouth leads into the body cavity through the pharynx and into the coelenteron (gut sac). As with all cnidarians, there is no anus -- undigested waste is regurgitated back out through the mouth. The gonads in A. viridis take up about 6%-12% of the mass of the anemone.
Average length: 8 cm.
Other Physical Features: ectothermic ; heterothermic ; radial symmetry ; venomous
During the mating season from June through August sperm is released and received by the ova via water flow. Inside of the female ova, the zooxanthellae algae are carried into the next generation. The snakelocks anemone is oviparous, meaning the eggs are laid outside the mother's body. This sexual process for reproduction is less common than the asexual longitudinal fission process. Longitudinal fission is a literal splitting of the sea anemone. After the splitting, they each have a simple and uncompleted ring of tentacles. The two new sea anemones have an uncentered mouth to start food consumption. Many of the internal tissues are duplicated before the actual splitting process. The longitudinal fission splits laterally, starting at the basal disc. The whole fission process happens relatively quickly, it takes from 5 minutes to 2 hours.
Breeding season: June to August (in British waters)
Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; sexual ; asexual ; fertilization (External ); oviparous
Adults of this species do not invest in their offspring except to provide yolk for their eggs.
Parental Investment: no parental involvement; pre-fertilization (Provisioning, Protecting: Female)
The snakelocks anemone (Anemonia viridis) is a sea anemone found in the eastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. The latter population is however sometimes considered a separate species, the Mediterranean snakelocks anemone (Anemonia sulcata).[2]
The tentacles are usually a deep green colour with purple tips, the green colour is often attributed to the presence of symbiotic algae within the tentacles but is actually the result of the presence of Green Fluorescent Protein which is present in corals, sea anemones, and some other cnidarians. The anemone tissue contains a symbiotic algae called zooxanthellae, which is necessary for the long-term survival of the sea anemone. When the numbers of algae diminish the anemone may appear dull grey in colour. The algae need light to flourish, so Snakelocks Anemones will be found in the sunniest pools. On average the snakelock anemone is 8 cm wide.
Unlike other cnidarians, anemones (and other Anthozoa) entirely lack the free-swimming medusa stage of the life cycle; the polyp produces eggs and sperm, and the fertilized egg develops into a planula that develops directly into another polyp.
Several species of small animals regularly live in a symbiotic or commensal relationship with the snakelocks anemone, gaining protection from predators by residing among the venomous tentacles. These include the incognito (or anemone) goby (Gobius incognitus),[3] the shrimp Periclimenes aegylios and the Leach's spider crab (Inachus phalangium).[4]
This species is widely consumed in southwestern Spain, in the Gulf of Cádiz region, as ortiguillas de mar (literally, "little sea nettles", because it has urticant properties before it is cooked), or simply ortiguillas. The whole animal is marinated in vinegar, coated in a tempura-like batter, and deep-fried in olive oil.[5] Ortiguillas are offered in some coastal Andalusian restaurants as a delicacy. They are similar in appearance and texture to croquettes, but have a strong seafood taste. This anemone is also consumed in Sardinia, where it is deep fried in olive oil and known as orziadas.
It is becoming a popular aquarium pet, especially in Europe and readily adapts to aquaria.
Anemone viridis in aquarium of Genoa
A colony in North Devon, UK
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Tentacles
In France
In France
A plate of ortiguillas in Cádiz
The snakelocks anemone (Anemonia viridis) is a sea anemone found in the eastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. The latter population is however sometimes considered a separate species, the Mediterranean snakelocks anemone (Anemonia sulcata).
The tentacles are usually a deep green colour with purple tips, the green colour is often attributed to the presence of symbiotic algae within the tentacles but is actually the result of the presence of Green Fluorescent Protein which is present in corals, sea anemones, and some other cnidarians. The anemone tissue contains a symbiotic algae called zooxanthellae, which is necessary for the long-term survival of the sea anemone. When the numbers of algae diminish the anemone may appear dull grey in colour. The algae need light to flourish, so Snakelocks Anemones will be found in the sunniest pools. On average the snakelock anemone is 8 cm wide.
