Fauna
Invertebrate

Aggregating Anemone

Anthopleura elegantissima

Also known as Clonal Anemone, Aggregated Sea Anemone

Aggregating anemones carpet rocky Pacific tide pools in dense, genetically identical colonies formed through repeated fission. Each individual hosts symbiotic algae within its tissues, giving the tentacles a distinctive olive-green color tipped with bright pink or purple. When rival colonies expand and touch, specialized white battle tentacles inflate to strike neighbor clones with potent stinging cells.

IntertidalClonalMarine
Aggregating Anemone reference1 / 7
"Aggregating Anemone, anthopleura elegantissima" by Ed Bierman is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/. · 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 & preyCopepods, Isopods, Small Crustaceans
Predators
  • Leather Star
  • Opalescent Nudibranch
  • Mossy Chiton
ThreatsOcean acidification, marine heatwaves, coastal pollution, and heavy beachgoer trampling
HabitatsExposed rocky intertidal coasts and tide pools
Life span50+ years for individual polyps; clonal lineages can survive indefinitely
Classification
  1. OrderActiniaria
  2. FamilyActiniidae
  3. GenusAnthopleura
  4. SpeciesAnthopleura elegantissima
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.
What to notice
Dense, pink-tipped anemone mats lining lower intertidal rocks and exposed reef benches.
Support conservation
Watch your step on bare rock surfaces and refrain from stepping on or prying anemones.
Responsible observation
  • Low Tide Observation: Look for vast, sand-dusted mats coating exposed rocks during low tide.
  • Gentle Touch: Lightly touching tentacle tips reveals a sticky sensation from microscopic stinging cells.
  • Clones and Borders: Search for distinct narrow bare strips separating rival genetic colonies.
Related species
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