Habitat and Distribution: There are over 1000 species of anemones found in coastal waters worldwide, in shallow waters (including coral reefs), and in deep oceans.

Mutualism: Clown fish always live near anemones; they are immune from (and protected by) the stinging tentacles. The clown fish help the anemone by cleaning the tentacles (as the fish eat detritus) and perhaps by scaring away predators.

Anatomy: Sea Anemones come in many shapes, sizes, and colors. Radially symmetric, they have a columnar body with a single body opening, the mouth, which is surrounded by tentacles. The tentacles protect the anemone and catch its food; they are studded with microscopic stinging capsules. Sea Anemones are usually about 1 to 4 inches (2.5-10 cm) across, but a few grow to be 6 feet (1.8 m) across.

Diet: Sea Anemones are carnivores that eat fish, mussels, zooplankton (like copepods, other small crustaceans, and tiny marine larvae), and worms. They catch food using the tentacles, which have poisonous stingers (called nematocysts).

Predators: Sea Anemones are eaten by very few animals. Their predators include the Grey Sea Slug and the Tompot Blenny.

Reproduction: Sea Anemones reproduce by lateral fission (in which an identical animal sprouts out of the anemone's side) and by sexual reproduction (in which anemones release eggs and sperm, producing free-swimming larvae).

Classification: Kingdom Animalia (animals), Phylum Coelenterata (corals, jellyfish, sea anemones, hydroids), Class Anthozoa meaning "flower-like animals" (corals and sea anemones), Order Actiniaria.