Fauna
Invertebrate · GBIF taxon 2256825

Sunburst Anemone

Anthopleura sola

Also known as Starburst Anemone, Solitary Anemone, Solitary Aggregating Anemone

Sunburst anemones anchor themselves in rocky tide pools along the eastern Pacific coast, where their green or olive oral discs showcase vibrant, radiating stripes. They host symbiotic microalgae within their tissues, relying on sunlight alongside captured prey for energy. When neighboring individuals touch, they fight slow-motion territorial battles using specialized white tentacles loaded with stinging cells.

IntertidalMarineSolitary
Sunburst Anemone reference1 / 7
Licensed reference(c) Ed Bierman, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & prey
  • Amphipods
  • Isopods
  • Small fish
Predators
  • Shag-rug nudibranch
  • Leather star
  • Mosshead sculpin
ThreatsOcean acidification, extreme heat events, coastal development
HabitatsRocky intertidal zones, tide pools, shallow reefs
Life span50–100+ years
Classification
  1. FamilyActiniidae
  2. SpeciesAnthopleura sola
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
Safe to observe at a normal distance in rocky tide pools.
Responsible observation
  • Tidepool Etiquette: Step carefully on bare rock to avoid crushing submerged or exposed anemones.
  • Gentle Touch: Touch a tentacle softly with a wet finger to feel the light, sticky tug of harmless stinging cells.
  • Spotting Battles: Search for a narrow band of bare rock between adjacent individuals where territorial fights occur.
Related species
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