Actinia striata

Actinia striata is a solitary sea anemone species endemic to the western Mediterranean Sea. It is typically found along the Mediterranean coasts of Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Croatia, and Morocco. This sea anemone inhabits rocky substrates, attaching itself to rocks in well-lit areas, among seaweed, or beneath rocks. It can be found at depths reaching up to 30 meters, which is deeper than some of its relatives like Actinia mediterranea or Actinia equina. The cylindrical column of Actinia striata can grow to a height and diameter of about 3 cm, with the foot expanding to a diameter of 6 cm. It features a crown of 196 tentacles arranged in six whorls. The column is smooth and finely striated, with colors ranging from reddish to dull green or brown, often with darker streaks. The tentacles are either reddish or greenish, and the oral disk is a plain red and somewhat transparent. When its tentacles are fully retracted, the anemone resembles a striped, gelatinous mound. Actinia striata is carnivorous, feeding on zooplankton captured with its tentacles. It is generally considered an uncommon species. Reproduction involves separate sexes, with breeding likely occurring in summer. The species is viviparous, with zygotes developing into planktonic planula larvae before settling.