Did you know that many sea anemones can reproduce by simply dividing in half?
The aggregating anemone (Anthopleura elegantissima), pictured here, is one such organism!
This anemone engages in the asexual reproductive process called “longitudinal fission”, or the natural process of splitting in two.
This phenomenon, which takes approximately 2-5 days, results in groupings of genetically identical sea anemones. In essence: clones!
Interestingly, when two genetically different groupings of aggregating anemones come into contact with one another, they will often exhibit aggressive behavior and/or make an attempt to avoid each other altogether.
Not all anemones can reproduce via fission. The occurrence varies by species, and sometimes, on environmental conditions. On the Mendocino Coast, giant green anemones (Anthopleura xanthogrammica), sunburst anemones (Anthopleura sola), and warty columned anemones (Aulactinia incubans), do NOT engage in fission; while brooding anemones (Epiactis prolifera), moonglow anemones (Anthopleura artemisia), white-spotted rose anemones (Cribrinopsis albopunctatus), painted anemones (Urticina crassicornis), stubby rose anemones (Urticina clandestina) and strawberry anemones (Actinia fragacea) do.
Longitudinal fission is one of several forms of sea anemone reproduction, which includes both sexual and asexual methods. Many anemones, including the aggregating anemone, are capable of two or more methods of reproduction.
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