Cnidarians of Zihuatanejo

PHYLUM CNIDARIA

-Sea Anemones and Corals (Class Anthozoa)

-Hexacorallians (Subclass Hexacorallia)

-Sea Anemones (Order Actiniaria)

-Suborder Enthemonae

-Superfamily Actinioidea

-Actiniid Sea Anemones (Family Actiniidae)

-Genus Bunodosoma -Bunodosoma californicum

The Bunodosoma sea anemone is a genus of marine invertebrates belonging to the family Actiniidae. These sea anemones are commonly found in tropical and subtropical coastal waters, particularly in rocky intertidal zones and shallow marine habitats. They display vivid colors, including shades of green, brown, purple, and red, often with patterns or stripes that provide camouflage or serve as a warning to potential predators.

Diet

Bunodosoma californicum is a carnivorous sea anemone that captures small marine animals with its tentacles and nematocysts.
Its prey includes small crustaceans, molluscs, worms, zooplankton and other small marine invertebrates.
The species lacks photosynthetic symbiotic algae and therefore depends primarily on captured food for nutrition.

Range

Bunodosoma californicum occurs along the eastern Pacific coast from the Gulf of California southward through Mexico and Central America.
It occurs in the Pacific coastal region of Mexico, including the broader area around Guerrero and Zihuatanejo.

Habitat

It inhabits rocky intertidal and shallow subtidal environments, particularly tide pools, rock crevices and protected rocky surfaces.
Individuals attach firmly to rocks with their pedal disc and are often found in sheltered locations where they are protected from strong wave action.
It has been recorded from the intertidal zone to approximately 5 m depth in the southern Gulf of California.
The species can also colonize artificial hard substrates; specimens in Costa Rica were found on a rocky breakwater in the lower littoral zone.

Description

Bunodosoma californicum is a relatively small, robust sea anemone with a cylindrical column and broad oral disc.
The column can reach approximately 40 mm in height and 20–30 mm in diameter at the base.
The entire column is covered with numerous rounded vesicles, giving the species its characteristic warty or knobbly appearance.
The vesicles are non-adhesive, so the column generally remains relatively clean rather than becoming covered with sand, shell fragments or other debris.
The column ranges from olive green and greenish brown to rusty red, while the oral disc is generally similar in colour and may have pale radial lines.
There are usually about 80 short, conical tentacles arranged in three or four cycles. Some individuals may have more or fewer tentacles, with colouration ranging from the colour of the column to shades of rose, purple or orange.