Anthopleura xanthogrammica

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Hexacorallians of the World

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Rosario Beach Marine Laboratory

Biology: Nematocysts

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LocationImageCnidae TypeRange of
Lengths (m) Range of
Widths (m)nNStateCarlgren O., 1945 Acrorhagi N/A atrichous isorhizas [atrichs] (50) 55 - 69 x 3.5 - 4 / N/A atrichs (50) 55 - 69 x 3.5 - 4 / Unfired Actinopharynx N/A basitrichs 24 - 31 x 3 - 3.5 / N/A basitrichs 24 - 31 x 3 - 3.5 / Unfired N/A microbasic p-mastigophores 22.6 - 24 x - 5.5 / N/A microbasic p-mastigophores 22.6 - 24 x 5.5 - / Unfired Column N/A atrichous isorhizas [atrichs] 22.6 - 28.2 x 4.2 - 5 / N/A atrichs 22.6 - 28.2 x 4.2 - 5 / Unfired N/A basitrichs 8.5 - 11.2 x 1.5 - 2 / N/A basitrichs 15.5 - 22.6 x 2.2 - 2.8 / N/A basitrichs 15.5 - 22.6 x 2.2 - 2.8 / Unfired N/A basitrichs 8.5 - 11.2 x 1.5 - 2 / Unfired Filaments N/A basitrichs 13 - 14 x - 2 / N/A basitrichs - 38 x - 5.5 1 / N/A microbasic p-mastigophores 21.1 - 26 x 4.2 - 5.5 / Tentacles N/A basitrichs 17.5 - 21.5 x 2.5 - 3.4 / N/A basitrichs 17.5 - 21.5 x 2.5 - 3.4 / Unfired N/A spirocysts - x - / N/A spirocysts - x - / UnfiredCarlgren O., 1952 Actinopharynx N/A basitrichs 21 - 29.6 x 2.8 - 3.5 / Unfired N/A microbasic p-mastigophores 22.6 - 28.2 x 5 - 5.5 / Unfired Column N/A atrichs 21 - x 4.2 - / Unfired N/A atrichs 66 - 124 x 2.8 - 5.6 / Unfired N/A basitrichs 14 - 17 x 2.5 - 2.8 / Unfired Filaments N/A basitrichs 39.5 - 49.3 x 5.5 - 7.5 / Unfired N/A microbasic p-mastigophores 24 - 28.2 x 5 - 5 / Unfired Tentacles N/A basitrichs 17 - 26.8 x 2.5 - 2.8 / UnfiredHand C. H., 1955 Acrorhagi atrichous isorhizas [atrichs] 65 - 109 x 2 - 4 81 / Unfired atrichous isorhizas [atrichs] 79 - 128 x 5 - 7 76 / Unfired basitrichs 9 - 21.5 x 1.5 - 3 62 / Unfired spirocysts 13.5 - 32 x 1.5 - 2 50 / Unfired Actinopharynx basitrichs 16 - 38 x 2 - 4 61 / Unfired microbasic p-mastigophores 20 - 35 x 3.5 - 5 64 / Unfired Column atrichous isorhizas [atrichs] 12.5 - 27 x 3.5 - 5 41 / Unfired basitrichs 10 - 17 x 1.5 - 2 57 / Unfired Filaments basitrichs 9.5 - 17.5 x 1.5 - 2 64 / Unfired basitrichs 24.5 - 42 x 1.5 - 2 73 / Unfired basitrichs 25 - 49 x 3.5 - 6.5 67 / Unfired microbasic p-mastigophores 12.5 - 38 x 2 - 4 59 / Unfired microbasic p-mastigophores 20 - 35 x 3.5 - 5 68 / Unfired Tentacles basitrichs 18.5 - 26.5 x 2 - 3 57 / Unfired spirocysts 11 - 25 x 2 - 4 62 / Unfired

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Hexacorallians of the World

The column can get to 30 cm in diameter and reach 30 cm high. It has compound, irregular tubercles (verrucae) on its column (photo) that are adhesive (often holding sand or bits of shell) and extend all the way to the bottom of the column. The base is only slightly larger than column diameter (photo) and adheres to rocks. The anemone has many tentacles that are short and conical and can be either blunt or pointed. The column is green to dark green and brown, typically all the way to the bottom. Tentacles are green, blue, or white without pink on the tips. No marks or bands. The oral disk is flat and usually green, but can be grayish-blue to greenish-blue (photo). The oral disk typically has no radial stripes or only faint ones.

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World Register of Marine Species

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Rosario Beach Marine Laboratory

Distribution

North Pacific

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UNESCO-IOC Register of Marine Organisms

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http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

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WoRMS for SMEBD

Geographic Range

Anthopleura xanthogrammica inhabits the low to mid intertidal zones of the Pacific Ocean, ranging continuously from Alaska to Point Conception. It also occurs in areas of cold upwellings possibly as south far as Panama (Smith and Potts,1987).

Biogeographic Regions: pacific ocean (Native )

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The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors

Geographical Range: From Alaska to Panama, these anemones flourish in the intertidal and subtidal zones. Only found in a few places with upwelling south of central CA.

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Rosario Beach Marine Laboratory

Morphology

Physical Description

This species of anemone can grow to a column width of 17 cm and a height of 30 cm. The tentacular crown can grow to 25 cm in diameter with numerous tentacles arranged in six or more rows around the margin. The tentacles and column are green but can vary in intensity, ranging from light green in the tentacles to olive green in the column.

Stinging cells called cnidocytes are located within the tentacles. These cells help A. xanthogrammica paralyze its prey, but causes no harm to humans (Giant,1998; Morris,et al.,1992).

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Look Alikes

How to Distinguish from Similar Species: May be confused with A. sola or large A. elegantissima but both of those species have pink tips on tentacles, the oral disk is usually striped, and at least some of the tubercles (verrucae) on the column are usually in distinct lengthwise rows up and down the column (picture in A. sola). Anthopleura artemisia has verrucae on only the top 2/3 of its column and usually lives mostly buried in sand.

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Rosario Beach Marine Laboratory

Habitat

Sand and rock covered shore lines are prime habitat for A. xanthogrammica. To prevent dessication due to extended periods of time with no water, these anemones will take up residence in the mid to low intertidal where they will be covered with water most of the day.

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Ocean Biogeographic Information System

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The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors

Depth range based on 97 specimens in 1 taxon.
Water temperature and chemistry ranges based on 85 samples.

Environmental ranges
  Depth range (m): -2 - 20
  Temperature range (°C): 9.481 - 15.249
  Nitrate (umol/L): 0.733 - 7.622
  Salinity (PPS): 31.538 - 33.476
  Oxygen (ml/l): 5.880 - 6.656
  Phosphate (umol/l): 0.419 - 1.030
  Silicate (umol/l): 3.287 - 18.436

Graphical representation

Depth range (m): -2 - 20

Temperature range (°C): 9.481 - 15.249

Nitrate (umol/L): 0.733 - 7.622

Salinity (PPS): 31.538 - 33.476

Oxygen (ml/l): 5.880 - 6.656

Phosphate (umol/l): 0.419 - 1.030

Silicate (umol/l): 3.287 - 18.436

Note: this information has not been validated. Check this *note*. Your feedback is most welcome.

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Depth Range: Benthic to low and mid intertidal zone, also may be found to 30 m depth.

Habitat: Giant green anemones live on the rocks of tide pools and in deep surge channels on exposed rocky shores. They can also be found on concrete pilings in open bays and harbors. Especially common near mussel beds.

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Rosario Beach Marine Laboratory

Trophic Strategy

Food Habits

The main food sources for A. xanthogrammica are mussels, sea urchins, small fish and crabs. These animals are paralyzed and captured after coming in contact with the anemones stinging tentacles. Once the prey are paralyzed, A. xanthogrammica pulls these animals into its mouth, contained in the center of its crown. When digestion is complete it excretes the waste through the same opening. The epidermis and tissues lining the gut of A. xanthogrammica contain living photosynthetic algae zoochlorellae, and the dinoflagelates zooxanthellae. These symbiotic protists can produce organic nutrients through photosynthesis that may also contribute to the nutritional needs of the anemone. It has been noted that anemones living in caves have reduced numbers of, or are completely lacking natural symbionts (Giant, 1998; Morris,et al.,1992).

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The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors

Reproduction

A. xanthogrammica reproduces sexually through external fertilization of sperm and eggs. Spawning generally occurs in the fall from September to November and will produce pelagic, planktotrophic larvae. These larvae float freely for a period of time until they become widely dispersed. Larvae tend to settle in established mussel beds where they will begin to develop (Smith and Potts,1987).

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Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD)

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The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors

Molecular Biology

Statistics of barcoding coverage: Anthopleura xanthogrammica

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 0
Specimens with Barcodes: 12
Species With Barcodes: 1

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Barcode of Life Data Systems

Conservation Status

US Federal List: no special status

CITES: no special status

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The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors

Benefits

Economic Importance for Humans: Negative

This species provides no known adverse affects to humans.

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The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors

Economic Importance for Humans: Positive

Anthopleura xanthogrammica has been the source of several medical studies. Contained within its tissues, at low concentrations, is a cardiotonic agent that has been associated with favorable stimulatory effects when introduced to the vertebrate heart. Clinical studies have show that this agent is a good candidate in the treatment of a failing heart and has considerable advantages over currently used drugs. There is question as to whether harvesting naturally occuring populations of A. xanthogrammica and A. elegantissima is a feasible way to manufacture this stimulant (Batchelder,1980; Morris,et al.,1992).

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