The anemone is a strange looking creature. It consists of a cylindrical column with many tentacles coming out of it. These tentacles are arranged in multiples of six. The tips of the tentacles vary in colour. The snakelocks anemone has bright green tentacles with purple tips.
Anemones live on the shoreline and in shallow water. They attach themselves to hard surfaces such as the sea bed, shells and boat keels.
The anemone has a sucker that allows it to attach itself securely to hard surfaces. Its tentacles sting the prey with paralysing venom and larger creatures are drawn into the anemone’s ‘mouth’ where they are digested. During very dry periods (such as low tide) the anemone contracts into a blob to prevent it from drying out.
Carnivore -The anemone traps and eats a wide variety of fish, crustaceans and other invertebrates.
Rising sea levels represent a big threat to coastal habitats and species. Within the National Park saline lagoons and salt marshes are particularly vulnerable to sea level rise and could be lost completely. Litter is also a big problem on the coast.
Why not take part in ‘Beachwatch’ litter pick events - these are held every autumn by the Marine Conservation Society.