Underwater ecological observations in the Gulf of Mannar, off Tuticorin-V. On sea anemones and the fishes Amphiprion and Dascyllus found with them

Abstract

The giant sea-anemone, Stoichactis giganteum (Forsk.) was found to grow both on the sandy area as well as on the rocky bottom, the large-lobed disc lying flat reaching up to a maximum of 80 cm. diameter in the latter case whereas the sandy forms were smaller in size. On the rocky bed, between 14-22 metres depth, the anemone occupied shallow pits or holes into which they retracted when needed. Often, many Amphiprion sebae Bleeker and a few Dascylltls trimantlatus (Ruppell) Were found swimming over the anemone at a height of nearly 30 mm.