Gorgonian-Feeding Anemone

Dactylanthus antarcticus

• Group: Anemone
• Typical depth: 10–610 m

This solitary anemone lives as a predator on deepwater gorgonian corals, gripping their branches anywhere between 10 and 610 metres down. Its mouth opens extraordinarily wide, letting it swallow the soft octocoral tissue it feeds on whole.

Taxonomy: Animalia › Cnidaria › Hexacorallia › Actiniaria › Preactiniidae › Dactylanthus

Species data via the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS), AphiaID 289782.