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Painted Anemone

Urticina crassicornis

Painted Anemone

Urticina crassicornis
Other Common Names
Christman anemone, mottled anemone
At the Aquarium
Rocky Coast
Other Common Names
Christman anemone, mottled anemone

At the Aquarium

Rocky Coast

Appearance

The pedal disk is always wider than the column is tall. The column has large, irregular patches of red and green or yellow, and has many non-sticky vesicles that are noticeable when the anemone closes up. The oral disc is brown, yellow-green, or a pale lilac color with up to 200 red-banded tentacles no longer than 2 inches each.

Habitat

Intertidal and subtidal to depths of 125 inches, attached to large boulders or rock

Diet

Crabs, shrimp, krill, mussels, chitons, barnacles, and fish

Life History

Painted anemones reproduce by broadcast spawning. The eggs are covered in short spines. The planula is the larval form and it will seek out a rock or other hard surface to attach to and grow into a polyp. By 2 months old, the anemone is 0.03 inches across the oral disk and has 12 tentacles measuring 0.04 inches in length. By 1 year of age, the anemone is 0.4 inches across the oral disk and it has 30-35 tentacles that average 0.3 inches in length.

IUCN Status

Not Evaluated

Ecosystem & Cultural Importance

The candy-striped shrimp is immune to the sting and is often seen nearby. Painted anemones are eaten by nudibranchs, sea stars, and snails.
Range
Pacific Ocean: Alaska to southern California
On the Oregon Coast
You might encounter one of these anemones while tidepooling.
Fun Facts
Though this anemone can be found in the intertidal, it does tend to inhabit darker spaces than other anemones which have photosynthetic symbionts living within their tissues. Since the painted anemone lacks such symbionts, it can avoid competing for well-lit spaces.

Citations & Other Resources

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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