sea anemones text index | photo index
Phylum Cnidaria > Class Anthozoa > Subclass Zoantharia/Hexacorallia > Order Actiniaria
Wiggly sand star anemone
awaiting identification*
updated Nov 2019
Where seen? This elegant anemone with few banded arms held in wiggles is sometimes seen on the soft silty shores on our Southern shores. Seen at night only.

Features: Diameter with tentacles extended 4-5cm. Tentacles few (about 20), thick at the base and tapering to a slender tip. Most of the tentacles are usually held flat against the surface, arranged in pairs or sets of three, with the tips in 'wiggles'. Often, 5 of the tentacles are held upright forming a 'tent' over the mouth. Oral disk tiny. The mouth is often seen upturned.

The tentacles come in shades of brown with many regular dark bands along the length. The body column appears to be covered with a leathery skin.

Sometimes mistaken for the Wiggly reef star anemone which tends to be more colourful, lacks the regular bands and tends to be found near coral reefs and among coral rubble.

Pulau Sudong, Dec 09

Pulau Hantu, Nov 09
 

*Species are difficult to positively identify without close examination.
On this website, they are grouped by external features for convenience of display.

Wiggly sand star anemones on Singapore shores
On wildsingapore flickr

Other sightings on Singapore shores


Pulau Hantu, Jun 11
Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on flickr.

Pulau Hantu, Jun 11
Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on flickr.

St. John's Island, Feb 11
Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on flickr.


Pulau Semakau, Aug 10
Photo shared by Neo Mei Lin on her blog.

Terumbu Bemban, Jul 11
Photo shared by James Koh on his blog.

Terumbu Pempang Laut, Apr 11
Photo shared by James Koh on his blog.
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