Baby Waratah Anemones come out of the mouth of their parent and look like miniatures adults.
Common name: Waratah Anemone
Scientific name: Actinia tenebrosa
Photo: W. Rudman
There is a famous fish that lives in anemones. Find out about this one and many more kinds of this interesting animal.
Rock pools and rock platforms
Waratah Anemone
Waratah Anemones grow to about 4 cm across. At low tide they look like a dark red blob with a red centre. When the tide is in the red tentacles unfold in a circle around the mouth.
When Waratah Anemones are under the water their tentacles are out. When they are exposed they close up and pull their tentacles in.
Waratah Anemones live on the rocky shores of Australia. They are found under rocks in the intertidal zone.
Waratah Anemones eat shrimp, worms and fish.
Waratah Anemones wait for prey to come past. Prey sticks to their many tentacles. They sting their prey to stop it getting away. The anemones pull their prey into their mouth with their tentacles.
Fish, crabs, starfish and some sea slugs all eat Waratah Anemones.
Copyright © Australian Museum, 2003
