Sea Anemone

Hi there! My name is Anemone, and I'm a sea anemone. People say I look like a flower blooming on the ocean floor, and I guess they're right! I have a soft, squishy body called a polyp that's like a stalk, and lots of colorful, wavy arms called tentacles. But don't be fooled, I'm not a plant—I'm a real, live animal! I live in the big, blue ocean, attached to a cozy rock on a busy coral reef.

Even though I stay in one spot, I'm a great hunter. Do you see my beautiful tentacles? They hold a secret weapon! They are covered in tiny, tiny stingers. When a little fish or shrimp swims by and gives one of my tentacles a tickle, ZAP! I give it a little sting that freezes it in place. Then, I use my tentacles to gently pull my snack into my mouth, which is right in the middle of my body. It’s my very own food delivery service!

My tentacles might be zappy to others, but not to my best friend, the clownfish! Clownfish have a special slimy coating that protects them from my stings. They love to wiggle and hide in my arms, where they are safe from bigger fish. In return for a safe home, my clownfish friends help clean my tentacles and chase away any grumpy butterflyfish that might try to nibble on me. We're the perfect team, always helping each other out.

My family of sea anemones is very, very old. We have been living in the world's oceans for over 500 million years—that's way before the dinosaurs even existed! Today, I'm still here, playing an important part in my coral reef home. I provide a safe house for my friends like the clownfish and shrimp, and I help keep the reef a beautiful, balanced, and colorful place for everyone to live. I'm a living rainbow and a helpful neighbor in the underwater world.