Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 29, 2026

Stichodactyla

Stichodactyla is a genus of sea anemones, of the family Stichodactylidae. They are host anemones, which maintain a relationship mutualistic with other animals, in their case with crabs of the genus Mithraculus, shrimp of the genus Periclimenes , and with various species of clownfish, of the genus Amphiprion, establishing a relationship of coexistence. In this way, crabs and fish protect themselves from their predators between the stinging tentacles of the anemone, and the anemone benefits from the cleaning of its oral disc and tentacles as a result of the continuous movements of the animals.

Last revised
Jul 29, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
200 w
Citations
1
Source
Stichodactyla
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Subphylum: Anthozoa
Class: Hexacorallia
Order: Actiniaria
Family: Stichodactylidae
Genus: Stichodactyla
Brandt, 1835
Synonyms
  • Polyparium Korotneff, 1886
  • Stoichactis
Amphiprion polymnus in S. Haddoni source ↗
Amphiprion sandaracinos in Stichodactyla mertensii source ↗
Stichodactyla tapetum source ↗
Stichodactyla gigantea source ↗

Stichodactyla is a genus of sea anemones, of the family Stichodactylidae. They are host anemones, which maintain a relationship mutualistic with other animals, in their case with crabs of the genus Mithraculus, shrimp of the genus Periclimenes , and with various species of clownfish, of the genus Amphiprion, establishing a relationship of coexistence. In this way, crabs and fish protect themselves from their predators between the stinging tentacles of the anemone, and the anemone benefits from the cleaning of its oral disc and tentacles as a result of the continuous movements of the animals.

Species

The World Register of Marine Species accepts the following species:1

References

References

  1. Fautin, D. (2015). Stichodactyla. In: Fautin, Daphne G. 2011. Hexacorallians of the World. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=267869. Consultado el 18-11-2024.