Amphianthus dohrnii

Researched By	Angus Jackson	Data Supplied By	MarLIN
Refereed by	Dr Simon K. Davy
Taxonomy
Scientific name	Amphianthus dohrnii	Common name	Sea fan anemone
MCS Code	D745	Recent Synonyms	None
Phylum	Cnidaria	Subphylum
Superclass	Anthozoa	Class	Hexacorallia
Subclass		Order	Actiniaria
Suborder	Nynantheae	Family	Hormathiidae
Genus	Amphianthus	Species	dohrnii
Subspecies
Additional Information	No text entered
Taxonomy References	Stephenson, 1935, Howson & Picton, 1997, Campbell, 1994, Manuel, 1988
General Biology
Growth form	Radial, Globose	Feeding method	Passive suspension feeder, Predator
Mobility/Movement	Temporary attachment	Environmental position	Epizoic
Typical food types	Plankton and suspended particles.	Habit	Attached
Bioturbator	Not relevant	Flexibility	High (>45 degrees)
Fragility	Fragile	Size	Very small(<1cm)
Height	Up to 1 cm.	Growth Rate	Insufficient information
Adult dispersal potential	Insufficient information	Dependency	Commensal with/on/in
Sociability	Solitary
Toxic/Poisonous?	No
Additional Information	Body size measurement is across the disk. Exceptionally up to 25 mm along the long axis of the base. Frequent asexual reproduction can cause quite high densities of individuals on a single host leading to gregariousness.
Biology References	Stephenson, 1935, Campbell, 1994, Manuel, 1988, Anonymous, 1999(h)
Distribution and Habitat
Distribution in Britain & Ireland	Recorded from the west coast of Scotland but most frequently recorded "off Plymouth". Also recorded from the Lizard, Lundy and off the south-west and south coasts of Ireland.
Global distribution	Recorded from the Atlantic coast of France and into the western Mediterranean
Biogeographic range	Not researched	Depth range	10 - 1000 m
Migratory	Non-migratory / Resident
Distribution Additional Information	Thought to be common in the first half of this century but now thought to be considerably less so. Numbers in the Mediterranean also appear to be decreasing (Manuel, 1988).
Substratum preferences	Other species (see additional information)	Physiographic preferences	Open coast
Biological zone	Lower Infralittoral, Upper Circalittoral, Lower Circalittoral	Wave exposure	Very Exposed, Exposed, Moderately Exposed, Sheltered
Tidal stream strength/Water flow	Moderately Strong (1-3 kn), Weak (<1 kn)	Salinity	Full (30-40 psu)
Habitat Additional Information	Substrata include the host species Eunicella verrucosa in England, Swiftia pallida in Scotland and other 'tubular' organisms such as Tubularia indivisa.
Distribution References	Campbell, 1994, Manuel, 1988
Reproduction/Life History
Reproductive type	Fission	Developmental mechanism	Not relevant
Reproductive Season	Insufficient information	Reproductive Location	As adult
Reproductive frequency	Insufficient information	Regeneration potential	No
Life span	21-100 years	Age at reproductive maturity	Insufficient information
Generation time	Insufficient information	Fecundity	Insufficient information
Egg/propagule size	Not relevant	Fertilization type	None (asexual)
Larvae/Juveniles Larval/Juvenile dispersal potential Not relevant Larval settlement period Not relevant Duration of larval stage Not relevant
Additional Information	Dispersal is limited because asexual reproduction produces no planktonic larval phase. Asexual reproduction is via a form of fission called basal laceration where the anemone creeps along a rock leaving fragments of its base behind which develop into miniature new anemones. Sexual reproduction has not been recorded but may occur. Some form of dispersal must exist, as distribution of this species is widespread.
Reproduction References	Stephenson, 1935