Green Burrowing Anemone

Author:  Elliot Scott-Bigsby

Common Names: Burrowing Green Anemone, Moonglow Anemone

Scientific name:  Anthopleura artemisia 

Size: It is up to 2″ (5cm) diameter.  The column is rarely seen as it is buried beneath sand and shells.  

Identifying features:     The Burrowing Green Anemone colour varies from grey, brown to green, and have tentacles that may be pink, orange, but more commonly green, with distinct white bands around them as seen in the photo. It is often found partially buried in sand and broken shells, with only the exposed tentacles with white bands apparent.  It’s base will attach itself to a rock, or something similarly sturdy, underneath the sediment. It may be found with all tentacles displayed and visible or if they are withdrawn, appearing as an unclear shape, or possibly as a puckered hole in the sand.

A Burrowing Green Anemone  (Anthopleura artemisia) burrowed in the sand in the intertidal zone on Portland Island, British Columbia. 

Habitat:   Found from Alaska to southern California, and are especially common around Juneau, Alaska. They are usually in protected bays, preferably with rocks and cobble covered with a layered of sand. They will also occasionally be found around open coasts. It’s depth will be between low intertidal and subtidal zones, up to about 30 m in depth.

Food (Prey):    They’re carnivorous and stationary in shallow areas, making their primary prey small crustaceans, but they will attempt to capture and eat whatever creatures touch their tentacles.

 

References:

Cowles, D. (2004) Anthopleura artemisia. Retrieved from https://inverts.wallawalla.edu/Cnidaria/Class-Anthozoa/Subclass_Zoantharia/Order_Actiniaria/Anthopleura_artemisia.html

Fretwell, K. and Starzomski, B. (2013) Buried green anemone, moonglow anemone, burrowing anemone, Anthopleura artemisia. Retrieved from https://www.centralcoastbiodiversity.org/buried-green-anemone-bull-anthopleura-artemisia.html

Piazzola, C.D. and Hiebert T.C. (2015) Anthopleura artemisia. Retrieved from https://scholarsbank.uoregon.edu/xmlui/bitstream/handle/1794/12638/A_artemisia_2015_final.pdf?sequence=3

Sept, J. D. (2019). The Beachcomber’s Guide to Seashore Life in the Pacific Northwest. Harbour Publishing Company Limited.