Metridium senile

The Frilled Anemone

Phylum Cnidaria
Class Anthozoa
Subclass Hexacorallia
Order Actiniaria
Suborder Nynantheae
Family Actiniidae
Genus Metridium
Species senile

Description: Reaches a height of 4 cm; column may be white, cream-colored, tan, greenish brown, brownish orange or light orange in color; hundreds of small, thin tentacles; tentacles are usually greyish or white; animal discharges long, white strands of stinging cells when it is disturbed.

Habitat: Found on floats, pilings, rocks and other solid objects.

Natural History: Like most anemones, M. senile is carnivorous but feeds primarily on small organisms.