Fauna
Invertebrate · GBIF taxon 2256780

Dahlia Anemone

Urticina felina

Also known as Northern Red Anemone, Beaded Anemone

Dahlia anemones anchor securely to rocky reefs, boulders, and overhangs, anchoring so firmly with their broad basal disc that dislodging them without injury is nearly impossible. Their stout tentacles fire specialized cnidae into passing prey, quickly drawing paralyzed crabs, prawns, or small fish toward the central mouth. During low tide or when threatened, individuals pull their tentacles entirely inward and camouflage their exposed column with adhering bits of gravel and broken shell.

MarineInvertebrateCarnivorous
Dahlia Anemone reference1 / 7
Licensed reference(c) Micha Baum, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
—observations
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—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & prey
  • Shore Crab
  • Sand Goby
  • Brown Shrimp
Predators
  • Grey Sea Slug
  • Common Sunstar
  • Black Sea Bream
ThreatsPollution, bottom trawling, and coastal development
HabitatsRocky intertidal pools, subtidal rocky reefs, and crevices to 100 meters deep
Life span50–100 years
Classification
  1. FamilyActiniidae
  2. SpeciesUrticina felina
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Harmless to humans; tentacles feel sticky and cannot penetrate thick skin.
Responsible observation
  • Tide Pool Etiquette: Observe in clear water without poking, as touching causes them to retract and expend vital energy.
  • Search Rocky Shallows: Look beneath rocky overhangs and along the edges of deep surge channels during spring low tides.
Related species
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