STICHODACTYLA MERTENSII
STICHODACTYLA MERTENSII BRANDT, 1835
Mertens' Sea Anemone
Original description As Stichodactyla mertensii, from specimens collected in the easternmost Caroline Islands
Names previously used Stoichactis giganteum (by Mariscal 1970, Allen and Mariscal 1971, Allen 1972, 1973, 1975)
Diagnostic field characters Oral disc to 1 m or even more diameter; tan to white column with longitudinal rows of verrucae pigmented magenta or orange (which appear purplish at depth); non-adhesive tentacles club-shaped to finger-like -- all may be short (10-20 mm long), or some (in patches) very long (to 50 mm or more).
Details This anemone holds the record for oral disc diameter (shape is often more ovoid than circular). Broadly flared oral disc lies smoothly over substratum, following its contours, or undulating slightly, held open by verrucae adhering to underlying coral or rocks, which may be related to this anemone's living only on hard surfaces, often reef slopes. No verrucae below wide upper column, but splotches of pigment continue down short, narrow column in more or less longitudinal streaks. Small pedal disc frequently attached in crevice into which animal can retract (although not rapidly). Tentacles, of uniform diameter, blunt-ended or pointed: short ones all colour of the oral disc, sometimes with narrow white basal portion; long ones may be white-, yellow-, or green-ended. Tan oral disc almost entirely covered with tentacles; yellow or greenish tentacle-free oral area 20-50 mm diameter. Symbiotic fishes may be melanistic.
Similar species Stichodactyla gigantea and S. haddoni live in sand. Their oral discs are wavy, in contrast with that of S. mertensii, and their columns more substantial. The only other host anemone that rivals S. mertensii in size is H. magnifica, which has longer, blunt tentacles and a brightly coloured, cylindrical column.
Distribution Micronesia and Melanesia to East Africa, and Australia to the Ryukyu Islands
Fish A. akallopisos, A. akindynos, A. allardi, A. chrysogaster, A. chrysopterus, A. clarkii, A. fuscocaudatus, A. latifasciatus, A. leucokranos, A. ocellaris, A. sandaracinos, A. tricinctus
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