1. Size and Coloration:
- The Giant Green Anemone can grow up to 2 feet (60 cm) in diameter, making it one of the largest anemones in the world.
- Its bright green coloration helps it camouflage well among the seaweed and kelp forests it inhabits. This provides protection from potential predators.
2. Stinging Tentacles:
- Like other anemones, the Giant Green Anemone has stinging tentacles called nematocysts.
- These tentacles contain venom that paralyzes and captures small prey, such as plankton, crustaceans, and small fish.
3. Sticky Base:
- The base of the anemone secretes a sticky substance that helps it firmly attach to rocks, pilings, and other substrates in the intertidal zone.
- This adaptation allows it to withstand the strong waves and currents of its coastal habitat.
4. Retraction Ability:
- When disturbed or threatened, the Giant Green Anemone can retract its tentacles and shrink its body into a ball.
- This defensive mechanism helps protect it from predators and environmental stresses.
5. Symbiotic Relationships:
- The Giant Green Anemone often forms symbiotic relationships with certain species of clownfish (like the orange Garibaldi), providing them with shelter and protection.
- In return, the clownfish defend the anemone from predators and help keep it free from parasites.
6. Feeding Behavior:
- The anemone uses its tentacles to capture prey, but its digestive process is unique.
- It has specialized cells called gastrodermal cells that break down and absorb nutrients from captured prey.
7. Reproductive Strategies:
- The Giant Green Anemone can reproduce both sexually and asexually.
- Asexual reproduction occurs when the anemone splits in two, creating a clone of itself.
- Sexual reproduction involves releasing gametes into the water, where fertilization takes place.
These adaptations have allowed the Giant Green Anemone to successfully thrive in the challenging intertidal zone, where waves, tides, and predators pose constant challenges. It is an iconic species that contributes to the biodiversity and ecological balance of the Pacific Northwest coastal waters.