About Anthothoe chilensis (Lesson, 1830)
Anthothoe chilensis is a small sea anemone that typically reaches around 2 centimeters in diameter. This species has vertical stripes in shades of pink, green, or brown, though it can also appear pale in color. This anemone is found off the coasts of Chile, Brazil, and Argentina in South America, around the island of St. Helena, and along the southern African coast from Luderitz to Richards Bay. It lives in waters ranging from the intertidal zone down to a depth of 28 meters. When threatened, Anthothoe chilensis shoots sticky defensive threads called acontia through pores in its body wall. Symbiotic bacteria that live inside its body supplement its food supply via photosynthesis. This species is preyed on by the nudibranch Anteaeolidiella cacaotica, which was previously recorded under its synonym Anteaeolidiella foulisi.
