SEA ANEMONES AND CORALS 



4 SEA ANEMONE is a barrel-shaped animal. The bottom of 

 ^^ the barrel is fastened to some rock or other firm anchorage, 

 while the upper end bears a slit-like mouth which is encircled by 

 a fringe of tentacles. The mouth leads into a simple tube-like 

 throat, which is bound to the inner sides of the barrel by means of 

 radiating partitions. 



The throat-tube is, however, only about one-half as long as the 

 height of the barrel, so that the radial partitions in the lower half 



Fig. is; EYED-CORAL, From Life. Nassau, Haliamas. 

 Orbicella acropora. 



of the barrel cavity do not meet at the centre, but leave an open 

 space which is the "stomach" of the anemone. Sea anemones are 

 among the most attractive of marine animals, beautiful both in 



