Boloceroides mcmurrichi (McMurrich’s anemone)
McMurrich’s anemone (Boloceroides mcmurrichi), or commonly referred to as the swimming anemone, commonly has hundreds of tentacles. The oral disc and mouth are hard to see. The tentacles have many white spots and are curled at the tip. A few inner tentacles can be significantly lighter. General colors are various shades of brown, red and mottled grey.
Unassessed by the IUCN Red list. Fairly widespread but not very common.
Boloceroides mcmurrichi can be found in the Southwest Atlantic as well as the Ind0-Pacific. They have been seen on sandy patches and seaweed/seagrass surfaces in a depth range of 1-34 meters in depth.
Sexual reproduction.
Up t0 12cm. in diameter, but usually smaller.
The anemone harnesses its energy by zooxanthellae, photosynthetic algae that can transfer light into energy and minerals for the anemone. It is known to be predated by the aeolid slug Berghia major.
The anemone has a remarkable flight response to escape its predators. It can release its tentacles when they are grabbed or bitten, a process called autotomy. But even more radically, it can detach its pedal disc, which holds it to the surface, and by lashing movements of the tentacles swim away.
