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Bubble-tip Anemone

Entacmaea quadricolor

Bubble-tip Anemone

Entacmaea quadricolor
Other Common Names
Bulb-tentacle Sea Anemone
At the Aquarium
Connected Coasts
Other Common Names
Bulb-tentacle Sea Anemone

At the Aquarium

Connected Coasts

Appearance

The foot of the bubble-tip anemone attaches to cavities deep in the reef. The tentacles and oral disc range from red to green to brown or tan. Their tentacles can either be bulbed or elongated. Bulbous tentacles have swollen tips that form round or oval bulbs. Elongated tentacles have blunt ends that can reach 80-100 mm in length.

Habitat

Shallow subtidal coral reefs

Diet

Zooxanthellae, algae that the bubble-tip anemone shares a symbiotic relationship with.

Life History

  • The bubble-tip anemone reproduces by broadcast spawning. Bubble-tip anemones release eggs and sperm from their oral disc into the water. Several thousand eggs are released by each spawning female anemone. Spawning of males and females usually happens at the same time to increase the chance of fertilization. After the eggs are fertilized, they develop into free-floating larvae, which then settle onto a suitable surface and develop into juveniles.
  • Bubble-tip anemones can also reproduce by asexual division. The anemone splits itself in half and each half regenerates into a whole anemone.

    • IUCN Status

    Not Evaluated

    Ecosystem & Cultural Importance

  • Bubble-tip anemones provide habitat for 13 species of anemonefish.
  • Bubble-tip anemones share a symbiotic relationship with zooxanthellae.
    • Range
    Widely distributed throughout Micronesia and Melanesia to East Africa and the Red Sea, and from Australia to Japan.
    On the Oregon Coast
    Fun Facts
    Like other sea anemones, the bubble-tip anemone has a single opening through which food is ingested and expelled.

    Citations & Other Resources

  • Bennett-Smith, M. F., J. E. Majoris, B. M. Titus, and M. L. Berumen. 2021. Clownfish hosting anemones (Anthozoa, Actiniaria) of the Red Sea: new associations and distributions, historical misidentifications, and morphological variability. Marine Biodiversity Records 14:22.
  • Chan, W. W. R., Y. C. Tay, H. P Ang, K. Tun, L. M. Chou, D. Huang, & R. Meier. 2020. Reproduction in Urbanised Coastal Waters: Shallow-Water Sea Anemones (Entacmaea quadricolor and Stichodactyla haddoni) Maintain High Genetic Diversity and Panmixia. Diversity (Basel), 12(12), 467. https://doi.org/10.3390/d12120467
  • Colin, P. L. 1995. Tropical Pacific invertebrates: a field guide to the marine invertebrates occurring on tropical Pacific coral reefs, seagrass beds, and mangroves. Coral Reef Press, Beverly Hills, Calif.
  • Fautin, D. G. 1992. Field guide to anemonefishes and their host sea anemones. Western Australian Museum, Perth, WA.
  • Gosliner, T. 1996. Coral reef animals of the Indo-Pacific: animal life from Africa to Hawaii exclusive of the vertebrates. Sea Challengers, Monterey, Calif.
  • Ranjan, R. and Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, editors. 2017. Prioritized species for mariculture in India. ICAR – Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi, Kerala, India.
  • Scott, A., and P. Harrison. 2007. Broadcast spawning of two species of sea anemone, Entacmaea quadricolor and Heteractis crispa, that host anemonefish. Invertebrate reproduction & development 50:163–171.
    • Back to All Animals

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    Since opening in 1992, the Oregon Coast Aquarium has been a premier attraction on Oregon’s central coast and an enduring advocate for the health of our ocean. For over three decades this 501(c)3 non-profit organization has supported marine wildlife and fostered environmental stewardship through its education programs, community partnerships, and rehabilitation efforts. Accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, the Oregon Coast Aquarium is consistently ranked as one of the top 10 aquariums in the U.S., providing visitors with opportunities to connect with 15,000 animals spanning 300 different species. The Oregon Coast Aquarium is located at 2820 S.E. Ferry Slip Rd., Newport, OR. Learn more about the Oregon Coast Aquarium and its vital work at aquarium.org, 541-867-3474. Follow us on Facebook or Twitter for the latest updates.

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