Giant Carpet Anemone

Overview

The giant carpet anemone (Stichodactyla gigantea) is a prominent sea anemone found in tropical Indo-Pacific waters. It is well-known for its symbiotic relationships with various species of anemonefish, which live among its tentacles for protection.

Distribution & habitat

This species is widely distributed throughout the tropical Indo-Pacific, ranging from the Red Sea to Samoa, including Southeast Asia and northern Australia. It typically inhabits shallow environments such as coral reefs, lagoons, and seagrass beds, often anchoring itself to sandy bottoms or hard substrates like coral rubble.

Appearance

Named for its flattened, mat-like oral disc, this anemone is covered in a dense carpet of short, stubby tentacles, usually measuring about 8–10 mm in length. The oral disc is often deeply folded and can reach diameters of 50 cm or more. Its body column is frequently buried in the substrate or crevices, and it may display vibrant colors including brown, green, purple, pink, or yellow. The column is often adorned with rows of non-adhesive, colorful bumps known as verrucae.

Biology & behavior

While they appear sessile, these anemones can relocate using their muscular pedal disc if conditions become unsuitable. They rely on a symbiotic relationship with photosynthetic zooxanthellae living within their tissues to supplement their nutrition. They are solitary animals that use their sticky, nematocyst-laden tentacles to deter predators and capture small prey. Reproduction can occur both sexually, through the release of gametes into the water column, and asexually, through fission.