Have you ever spotted ghostly-looking anemones and wondered why the color variation?
The aggregating anemone (Anthopleura elegantissima) maintains a symbiotic relationship with the unicellular algae: zoochlorellae. This particular algae engages in photosynthesis and subsequently provides the anemone with both energy and its distinctive green hue. If the anemone lives in a location that gets very little to no sunlight, like in a sea cave or under a large rock, the anemone may appear gray or even white due to an inability for the zoochlorellae to photosynthesize.
"Aggregating Anemone" (Anthopleura elegantissima)
The same goes for giant green anemones, like those pictured below!
"Giant Green Anemone" (Anthopleura xanthogrammica) These giant green beauties chose the back of a sea cave for their home, and as a result, primarily exhibit a ghostly white hue instead of their traditional vibrant green color.
Comments