Chuck Davis / Tidal Flats Ltd.

With its stinging tentacles extended, a pink club anemone feeds...

Caption: With its stinging tentacles extended, a pink club anemone feeds in the shadows of a giant kelp forest reef ledge (within a colony of other club anemones), in the Santa Barbara Channel, near Santa Barbara, California.
Scientific name: Corynactis californica
Location: Santa Barbara Channel, near Santa Barbara, California
Copyright: © Chuck Davis / Tidal Flats, Ltd.
Photographer Code: CAC097838
AGPix ID: AGPix_ChDaTiFl26_0106
Photo Alignment: 35mm (horizontal)
Comments: Club anemones get their common name from their club-shaped or "capitate" tentacles; the anemone's tentacles are equipped with powerful stinging cells called "nematocysts" which can dispatch a lethal sting to their small prey, although the sting of a club anemone would be harmless to humans. Club anemones form colonies via binary fission, but they can also reproduce by dispersing sexual gametes into the ocean. This species may occur in a variety of vibrant colors -- red, pink, lavender, orange and brown are common colors.