Bali Fire Anemone
Megalactis hemprichi
The Bali Fire Anemone Megalactis hemprichii (syn: Megalactis hemprichi) looks more like a coral than an anemone. But beware, their sting is much more powerful! Aquarists and divers alike, be warned, wear gloves when handling this genus and when diving do not have them come in contact with any bare skin. Although all anemones have stinging cells or nematocyst found in their tentacles, these anemones have a dangerous sting that is extremely powerful and is very painful. They have been known to sting divers quite badly.
This anemone belongs to the Megalactis genus, and is one of the 'stinging sea anemones' in the Actinodendronidae family. This family consists of three genera; Actinodendron, Actinostephanus, and Megalactis, all of which are found only in the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific. They are so named 'stinging sea anemones' because of their capacity to sting humans badly. The Bali Fire Anemone is similar in this regard to the Hell's Fire Anemone Actinodendron plumosum, and is also known by that same common. Another common name is the Branching Tree Anemone.
The Megalactis genus is a unique group of anemones that look more like colonies of soft corals than actinides. Typically they have an oral disc that is drawn out into branched tentacles tipped with white swellings, resembling globular spheres. They are found on coral rich slopes and drop-offs with coral gravel, or in shallow, sandy and muddy areas. They bury their foot and body into the substrate and adhere their foot to hard surfaces underneath, having only their oral disc and tentacles emerging. When disturbed they can retract their entire body into the sand and be virtually invisible.
This anemone belongs to the Megalactis genus, and is one of the 'stinging sea anemones' in the Actinodendronidae family. This family consists of three genera; Actinodendron, Actinostephanus, and Megalactis, all of which are found only in the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific. They are so named 'stinging sea anemones' because of their capacity to sting humans badly. The Bali Fire Anemone is similar in this regard to the Hell's Fire Anemone Actinodendron plumosum, and is also known by that same common. Another common name is the Branching Tree Anemone.
The Megalactis genus is a unique group of anemones that look more like colonies of soft corals than actinides. Typically they have an oral disc that is drawn out into branched tentacles tipped with white swellings, resembling globular spheres. They are found on coral rich slopes and drop-offs with coral gravel, or in shallow, sandy and muddy areas. They bury their foot and body into the substrate and adhere their foot to hard surfaces underneath, having only their oral disc and tentacles emerging. When disturbed they can retract their entire body into the sand and be virtually invisible.