Monday, March 12, 2012

Animal Fun Fact: The Venus Flytrap Sea Anemone


I wanted to start posting some things about my passions in life, one being animals of any sort. So I thought, why not have an animal fun fact?!

VENUS FLYTRAP SEA ANEMONE (Actinoscyphia aurelia) from NOAA Photo Library

The Venus flytrap sea anemone is a large sea anemone resembling a Venus Flytrap. Like it’s plant namesake, it is believed to close its tentacles to capture prey or to protect itself. It is found in and around the Gulf of Mexico.

Flytrap anemones grow up to 30 cm (one foot) across attaching themselves to exposed rock outcrops on sea-mounts and deep sea ridges, where currents are relatively strong. Some scientists have suggested that flytrap anemones eat bits of debris carried on the ocean currents, their body shape suggests that they feed on small animals, such as shrimp, that happen to swim by. Flytrap anemones were recently discovered to release bio-luminescent slime when disturbed.



Photobucket

No comments: