Intertidal Invertebrates of the Monterey Bay Area, California

Compiled & photographed by Gary McDonald, Long Marine Laboratory, University of California, Santa Cruz

Description: Tentacles variable in color, typically greenish, bluish, or almost white, lacking white flecks. Oral disk uniform in color: grey-blue, green, or greenish blue; occasionally with faint radiating lines.. Column covered with, compound, adhesive tubercles which are not arranged in obvious vertical rows. May be distinguished from Anthopleura sola which has larger tubercles on column that are arranged in distinct vertical rows and typically has obvious radiating lines on the oral disk.

Size: Column up to 20cm in diameter, tentacular crown up to 25cm in diameter.

Notes: The anemones produce the green color in response to symbiotic green algae or dinoflagellates. Anemones living in bright sunlight are bright green, while those living in shade are quite pale. Preyed upon by the wentletrap Opalia borealis.