On the Colours of Tealia crasslcoinis. 



G15 



LXX. — On tlie Colours of the Sea Anemone, Tealia crassi- 

 cornis. By Richard ELMiiiiiSx and John JSmith Shakpe. 



(From tlie Marine Biological Station, Millport.) 



In a previous paper (1920) we detailed an attempt to in- 

 terpret something of tiie colour-variations of Actinia equina, 

 and showed that the lipochrome pigments of that species act 

 as *^ optical sensitisers producing active oxygen for the use of 

 the animal through the medium of the respiratory pigment." 

 This study has been extended to the species of Tealia crassi" 

 cortiis with similar results so far as the littoral forms are 

 concerned. 



Part I. — Environmental. By Richard Elmhirst. 



Habitat, etc. — Tealia crassi'cornis is a well-known Anemone 

 '' distributed everywhere on the British coasts '' (Gosse, 

 p. 216) from the Fucus serratus level of the intertidal zone 

 to moderate depths. Considerable changes are noticeable in 

 the general characters and habits of the species as it is fol- 

 lowed from littoral to benthic habitat. Taking (1) proportions, 

 (2) texture of the skin, (3) occurrence of the wart-like suckers 

 on the column, (4) habit of dressing in shell-debris etc., 

 (5) pigmentation, and (6) exposure sought at various depths 

 in tabular form : — 



Littoral. 



Sub-Littoral, including 

 caves and large rock-pools. 



Deep-water. 



L Small and low, up to 3" Larger, height about eq^ual Large, 6" or more, usually 

 broad X 1" hi^li. to width. Li-rher than broad. 



2. ''Firm and even cartila- 

 ginous " {(josae). 



Less firm. 



Soft. 



W.arts absent, or of irregular 

 occurrence. 



3. Column thickly covered Less warty.' 



with wart-iike suckers. 



4. Generally dressed in frag- Dressing not usual, always 



mentsof shell etc., closed expanded, except when 

 during ebb, often half- feeding, 

 buried in substratum. 



5. Heavy pigmentation of Brighter reds, less dull green Red and paler; pellucid. 



green, red, and brown ; and brown. 

 op:i(5[ue. 



6. In shelter under stones and Sides of caves, expo.'^ed on Single, on stones or largs 



in crevices, often several boulders, often numerous. shells, 

 tofjether. 



