The Beadlet Anemone

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The Beadlet Anemone (Actinia equina) is a common sea anemone found on rocky shores around all coasts of the British Isles. Its range extends to the rest of Western Europe and the Mediterranean Sea, and along the Atlantic coast of Africa as far south as South Africa. Pomodoro di Mare Actinia equina

Actinia equina can be found both in exposed and sheltered situations. It is highly adapted to the intertidal zone as it can tolerate both high temperatures and desiccation. The anemone may also be found in regions of variable salinity such as estuaries.

Underwater, it displays up to 192 tentacles  arranged in six circles. Out of water, the tentacles retract and the anemone resembles a blob of red, brown, or orange jelly, up to about 3-9  centimetres across. It has bright blue beads (known as acrorhagi) located just beneath the tentacles, organised as an external ring containing stinging cells located at the top of the column that it uses to catch prey. Pomodoro di Mare Actinia equina

(extract from Wikipedia)

Much of the Mediterranean coast enjoys a hot-summer Mediterranean climate. However, most of its southeastern coast has a hot desert climate, and much of Spain’s eastern (Mediterranean) coast has a cold semi-arid climate. Although they are rare, tropical cyclone occasionally form in the Mediterranean Sea, typically in September–November.

Because of the short residence time of waters, the Mediterranean Sea is considered a hot-spot for climate change effects. Deep water temperatures have increased by 0.12 °C (0.22 °F) between 1959 and 1989. According to climate projections, the Mediterranean Sea could become warmer. The decrease in precipitation over the region could lead to more evaporation ultimately increasing the Mediterranean Sea salinity. Because of the changes in temperature and salinity, the Mediterranean Sea may become more stratified by the end of the 21st century, with notable consequences on water circulation and biogeochemistry.

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Fanino Cirivasi Fanino Cirivasi ha scritto / wrote 224 articoli / Posts.
Questo articolo è stato scritto il / This article was written on 18/05/2019
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