Breeder ID: ACTEQU-030493-SHVSTE-001 Date received: 3/4/93

Identification: Actinia equina (Linnaeus, 1758) Geographic origin: South Atlantic

Taxonomy:  (after I.C.Z.N.)

Kingdom Animalia

Phylum Cnidaria

Class Anthozoa Subclass Zoantharia

Order Actiniaria Suborder Thenaria

Family Actiniidae

Genus Actinia

Species equina var. mesembryanthemum (Ellis & Solander) var. fragacea (Tugwell)

Description: True anemone. Typically solitary (do not form colonies). Some burrow beneath
substratum, but most are sessile. Often large and brightly colored (Kaplan, 1982)

Duration(yr): 0.3

Size (mm): 2 specimens; 51 mm in diameter at column. 60 – 73 mm across with tentacles fully
expanded.

Broodstock notes: Acquired 12/08/93. Anemone “A” placed in minimal current; Anemone “B”
placed in strong current. Both attached to rocks. No lateral movement. Expanded mainly at night
or to feed, otherwise closed.

Physical differences: Column dark to wine red. Dark blue dots ~2.5 mm encircle base of oral
disc.

Adult diet: Frozen Artemia twice weekly. Directed into tentacles with eyedropper.

Time spawning began: 0915 hours

Area spawning occurred: Adjacent to anemone “B”

Frequency of spawning: spawning occured 3/2/93

Description of spawn: miniature of adult with attached white tissue-like mass

Quantity: 3

Size: 3.0 mm

Development: Discharged from mouth of adult (mouth appeared slightly protruding). White
tissue-like mass discarded as young attached to rock.

Transfer / removal method: not removed, left in tank

Water temperature (F): 77 F

Specific gravity: 1.023

Comments: No other information provided

Original description: no information presently available. The physical description is taken
from:

Kaplan, Eugene, H., A Field Guide to Coral Reefs, Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, 1982,
ISBN 0-395-31661-8

Word origin: The genus Actinia seems most likely to be from the Greek root actino meaning a
ray or beam. This would be in keeping with the order and family root. The species
equinaappears to be from the Latin root equ, -a, -I, meaning equal. The scientific naming would
seem to refer to the symmetry of the anemone when fully expanded and viewed from above.

Zoantharia can be broken down into the Greek roots zo, -a, meaning animal; and anth, -e, -o
=us, meaning flower