Berried anemone (alicia mirabilis)
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Common name Berried anemone
Scientific name Alicia mirabilis
Class Anthozoa
Order Attiniaria
Family Alicia mirabilis
Distribution The Mediterranean, the Red Sea, the Tropical Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean.
Habitat rocky or coral substrates, sand and mud substrates, at the base of cliffs or amidst meadows of Posidonia oceanica, from depths of 10 - 15 metres to over 50 m.
Dimensions When upright may exceed 40 cm in height
Characteristicts When contracted resembles a conic cauliflower; translucent tentacles and evident tubercles on the column.

Description
During the day the anemone remains contracted, in the form of a brownish cone covered with tubercles that looks very much like a cauliflower. At night the stalk extends and the tubercles and protuberances give it the look of a flower with up to 96 stinging tentacles. The colour changes to yellowish green while the tubercles range between gold and orange.

Biology
The berried anemone spreads its crown of tentacles and expands its stalk decorated with numerous distinct outgrowths, called pseudo tentacles, to catch its prey (small fish and plankton organisms) at night. This anemone has separate sexes, is oviparous and is regarded as the most toxic in the western hemisphere.