CERIANTHUS FILIFORMIS Meaning and
Definition
-
Cerianthus filiformis, commonly known as the slender tube-dwelling anemone, is a species of large, solitary, marine invertebrate belonging to the class Anthozoa, within the phylum Cnidaria. This species is predominantly found in the Atlantic Ocean, particularly along the eastern coast of North America, from Nova Scotia to the Caribbean Sea.
The slender tube-dwelling anemone has a distinctive cylindrical body shape with an extended tubular structure, which can reach up to half a meter in length. The body consists of an outer soft column, typically brownish or greenish in color, accompanied by numerous tentacles that encircle the oral disc. These tentacles are often colored with shades of purple or pink and are equipped with stinging cells, known as nematocysts, which the anemone employs for both defense and capturing prey.
C. filiformis has a specialized adaptation to its environment, as it resides within a self-constructed tube made of a mucous secretion encompassed with sand and shell fragments. The tube anchors the anemone to the seabed, allowing it to extend its tentacles from the aperture while hiding the majority of its body safely inside.
These anemones are carnivorous, primarily feeding on small organisms such as zooplankton and small crustaceans that come into contact with their tentacles. They filter-feed by using their tentacles to capture prey and convey it towards their mouth, situated in the center of the oral disc. The slender tube-dwelling anemone also possesses symbiotic relationships with certain species of shrimp, which find shelter within the anemone's tube system, benefiting from protection while providing the anemone with food scraps and other benefits.
Etymology of CERIANTHUS FILIFORMIS
The word cerianthus comes from the Greek words keras meaning horn and anthos meaning flower. The name cerianthus refers to the flower's tube-like structure resembling a horn.
Filiformis is a Latin word meaning thread-like or filamentous, which describes the long and slender shape of the creature. So, cerianthus filiformis can be roughly translated as horned flower with a slender shape.
