BIOTIC Species Information for Amphianthus dohrnii
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| Researched by | Angus Jackson | Data supplied by | MarLIN | ||||||||||||
| Refereed by | Dr Simon K. Davy | ||||||||||||||
| Taxonomy | |||||||||||||||
| Scientific name | Amphianthus dohrnii | Common name | Sea fan anemone | ||||||||||||
| MCS Code | D745 | Recent Synonyms | None | ||||||||||||
| Phylum | Cnidaria | Subphylum | |||||||||||||
| Superclass | Anthozoa | Class | Hexacorallia | ||||||||||||
| Subclass | Order | Actiniaria | |||||||||||||
| Suborder | Nynantheae | Family | Hormathiidae | ||||||||||||
| Genus | Amphianthus | Species | dohrnii | ||||||||||||
| Subspecies | |||||||||||||||
| Additional Information | No text entered | ||||||||||||||
| Taxonomy References | Stephenson, 1935, Howson & Picton, 1997, Campbell, 1994, Manuel, 1988, | ||||||||||||||
| General Biology | |||||||||||||||
| Growth form | Radial Globose |
Feeding method | Passive suspension feeder Predator |
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| Mobility/Movement | Temporary attachment |
Environmental position | Epizoic |
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| Typical food types | Plankton and suspended particles. | Habit | Attached | ||||||||||||
| Bioturbator | Not relevant | Flexibility | High (>45 degrees) | ||||||||||||
| Fragility | Fragile | Size | Very small(<1cm) | ||||||||||||
| Height | Up to 1 cm. | Growth Rate | Insufficient information | ||||||||||||
| Adult dispersal potential | Insufficient information | Dependency | Commensal with/on/in | ||||||||||||
| Sociability | Solitary | ||||||||||||||
| Toxic/Poisonous? | No | ||||||||||||||
| General Biology Additional Information | Body size measurement is across the disk. Exceptionally up to 25 mm along the long axis of the base. Frequent asexual reproduction can cause quite high densities of individuals on a single host leading to gregariousness. |
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| Biology References | Stephenson, 1935, Campbell, 1994, Manuel, 1988, Anonymous, 1999(h), | ||||||||||||||
| Distribution and Habitat | |||||||||||||||
| Distribution in Britain & Ireland | Recorded from the west coast of Scotland but most frequently recorded "off Plymouth". Also recorded from the Lizard, Lundy and off the south-west and south coasts of Ireland. | ||||||||||||||
| Global distribution | Recorded from the Atlantic coast of France and into the western Mediterranean | ||||||||||||||
| Biogeographic range | Not researched | Depth range | 10 - 1000 m | ||||||||||||
| Migratory | Non-migratory / Resident | ||||||||||||||
| Distribution Additional Information | Thought to be common in the first half of this century but now thought to be considerably less so. Numbers in the Mediterranean also appear to be decreasing (Manuel, 1988). | ||||||||||||||
| Substratum preferences | Other species (see additional information) |
Physiographic preferences | Open coast |
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| Biological zone | Lower Infralittoral Upper Circalittoral Lower Circalittoral |
Wave exposure | Very Exposed Exposed Moderately Exposed Sheltered |
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| Tidal stream strength/Water flow | Moderately Strong (1-3 kn) Weak (<1 kn) |
Salinity | Full (30-40 psu) |
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| Habitat Preferences Additional Information | Substrata include the host species Eunicella verrucosa in England, Swiftia pallida in Scotland and other 'tubular' organisms such as Tubularia indivisa. | ||||||||||||||
| Distribution References | Campbell, 1994, Manuel, 1988, | ||||||||||||||
| Reproduction/Life History | |||||||||||||||
| Reproductive type | Fission |
Developmental mechanism | Not relevant |
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| Reproductive Season | Insufficient information | Reproductive Location | As adult | ||||||||||||
| Reproductive frequency | Insufficient information | Regeneration potential | No | ||||||||||||
| Life span | 21-100 years | Age at reproductive maturity | Insufficient information | ||||||||||||
| Generation time | Insufficient information | Fecundity | Insufficient information | ||||||||||||
| Egg/propagule size | Not relevant | Fertilization type | None (asexual) | ||||||||||||
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| Reproduction Preferences Additional Information | Dispersal is limited because asexual reproduction produces no planktonic larval phase. Asexual reproduction is via a form of fission called basal laceration where the anemone creeps along a rock leaving fragments of its base behind which develop into miniature new anemones. Sexual reproduction has not been recorded but may occur. Some form of dispersal must exist, as distribution of this species is widespread. | ||||||||||||||
| Reproduction References | Stephenson, 1935, | ||||||||||||||
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