Image 6-10
Purple Base Anemone

This close-up image shows the delicate structure and striking colors of a purple base anemone (Heteractis magnifica). The green color in the anemone's tentacles is the result of zooxanthellae, a symbiotic algae that lives inside the anemone tissues and uses sunlight to provide it with an additional source of food. This anemone species is also known as the magnificent sea anemone and the Ritteri anemone. It is a large anemone, reaching a maximum size of 20 inches (50 cm). The tentacles can grow to 3 inches (8 cm) long.