Mr. Fokker

An anemone is a colorful, flower-like marine animal that belongs to the cnidarian family, related to jellyfish and corals. These soft-bodied creatures attach themselves to rocks, coral reefs, or the ocean floor using a muscular base called a pedal disc. Their most distinctive feature is a crown of tentacles surrounding a central mouth, which they use to capture small fish, shrimp, and plankton. The tentacles contain specialized stinging cells called nematocysts that paralyze prey on contact.

Sea anemones come in vibrant colors ranging from bright greens and blues to deep purples and oranges. They can vary dramatically in size, from tiny specimens less than an inch across to giant Pacific anemones that can span several feet. Despite their plant-like appearance, they are entirely carnivorous animals. Some species form symbiotic relationships with clownfish, which live safely among the anemone's stinging tentacles in exchange for protection and food scraps. Anemones are found in oceans worldwide, from shallow tide pools to deep-sea environments.