Cnidarian Abrasion

Sea anemones, along with hydrozoans and jellyfish belong to the phylum Cnideria, which is characterized by specialized stinging cells called nematocysts. Nematocysts are used to hunt and defend against predators* (Kass-Simon and Scappaticci, 2002). In addition to the nematocysts found within the tentacles, some sea anemones have specialized fighting tentacles or acrorhagi. After making contact with another organism, these hollow structures expand and adhere to the other organism. The nematocysts continue to fire resulting in the process referred to as "peeling" where the tissues beneath the acrorhagi to become necrotic and peel off (Bigger 1988). In the following clip, a sea anemone has attached itself between two coral colonies and has killed all of the coral tissue within its reach.

Credits
Cinematography: Neilan Kuntz
Edited by: Neilan Kuntz
Written by: Dr. Olga Pantos
Location: Bocas del Toro, Panama (2003)

Bigger, C.H. (1988) The role of nematocysts in anthozoan aggression. In: the biology of nematocysts. Edited by D.A. Hessinger and H.M. Lenhoff. Academic Press, Inc., San Diego. Pp. 295-308.

Kass-Simon, G. and Scappaticci, A.A. (2002) The behavioral and developmental physiology of nematocysts. Canadian Journal of Zoology 80: 1772-1794.

*Refer to Net Trapping for hunting

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Science & Technology

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• cnidarianabrasion