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Writer's pictureAnna Gardner

What is THAT?: Anemone Burps

Winning the award for "iron stomach of the ocean," sea anemones seriously seem capable of eating just about anything.


Anything, and they eat it all whole!


Prickly sea urchins, stinging jellyfish--even live crabs:


One might wonder how this works... not everything can be digestible, right?


Well, right! Sea anemones, in essence, will vomit up gelatinous goo piles resembling clear Jell-o that contain anything they can't naturally break down.


This blog includes several photographs of "Giant Green Anemones" (Anthopleura xanthogrammica) (unless otherwise specified) producing regurgitate in varying locations along the Mendocino Coast.




I know, kinda gross... but also, kinda really neat!


Perhaps just think of it as a post-meal burp? Compliments to chef Neptune, if you will!


Below, it appears that the shell of a California Mussel (Mytilus californianus) is contained within the regurgitate:


These Aggregating Anemones (Anthopleura elegantissima) all seem to have fed on the same group of organisms during a much higher tide; they are all expelling in tandem:

Should we call this rock the "Vomitorium"? (Heh, sorry.)


Anyway--now if you ever see an anemone expelling chunky jelly, you'll know why!

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