Dahlia Anemone
Urticina felina
Habitat: Shaded rock pools to low shore and shallow sea
Depth: 1-100m
Food: Carnivorous – eats small fish and invertebrates
Size: Up to 10cm across
Lifespan: Over 10 year
Conservation Status: Not Evaluated (NE)
Dahlia anemones look like flowers but are in fact animals related to corals and jellyfish. Dahlias show a range of stunning colours, from red to pink, orange to green, with bands of colour around the central mouth. The stinging tentacles around the mouth trap passing fish, prawns and other small animals - these anemones are hungry predators!