Actinia equina

desiree falzon le 05/10/15

Thanks guys. Very interesting discussion. I will keep a lookout for the characteristics you've ponted out.
Best wishes,Desiree

Bruno CHANET le 05/10/15

ok

convinced

thank you Roberto

Roberto PILLON le 04/10/15

This a reference for "The acrorhagi are almost invariably bright blue, occasionally white or pink" in Actinia equina:
http://species-identification.org/species.php?species_group=anthozoa&id=89&menuentry=soorten

Roberto PILLON le 04/10/15

Maybe it is A. striata, I do not know well the Phylum Cnidaria, but the blue margin at the very base it seems irrelevant.

Roberto PILLON le 04/10/15

Another example...

Roberto PILLON le 04/10/15

???
Actinia schmidti (ex-Actinia equina) has always a blue margin at the very base, often visible.

Bruno CHANET le 04/10/15

yes Roberto, you may be right

but a blue margin at the very base (very visible in the initial image) has, as far as I am informed, only been described/observed in Actinia striata.

Awaiting, as you adviced, genetic studies and new results, the simpliest solution is to consider this as an image of Actinia striata

Roberto PILLON le 04/10/15

(non renseigné)

Roberto PILLON le 04/10/15

(non renseigné)

Roberto PILLON le 04/10/15

(non renseigné)

Roberto PILLON le 04/10/15

I think it is Actinia sp., it is different to Actinia striata and it is different to Actinia schmidti (ex-Actinia equina).

I often encounter this species in the south of Corsica or in Northern Sardinia. I've never encountered it in other places.
http://doris.ffessm.fr/forum_detail.asp?forum_numero=9618

I met and photographed Actinia striata in Menorca, it is different: smaller, with less banding, thick lines and color much darker banding.
http://doris.ffessm.fr/forum_detail.asp?forum_numero=9617

I think that these examples are probably Actinia cf. schmidti strangely colored. The main reason is that there are examples too large for A. striata and various specimens with intermediate colors.
I think that need genetic studies for to give a name to these specimens. I post some sample photos.

Desirée Falzon le 01/10/15

Merci Frédéric! I did a google search and it looks exactly like Actinia striata. New species for me:)

Frédéric ANDRÉ le 01/10/15

Bonjour Désirée,

je pense à l'anémone proche de l'anémone cheval : Actinia striata Quoy & Gaimard, 1833, http://doris.ffessm.fr/fiche2.asp?fiche_numero=2410