Image 6-18
Purple Anemone

This image of a purple sea anemone was captured by NOAA photographers in the waters off the Galapagos Islands in the Pacific Ocean. This species is found in the deep waters of a rift valley. It does not contain the photosynthetic algae that many shallow water anemones posses. Without this limitation, this anemone is able to survive in deep ocean waters where sunlight cannot penetrate. Like most anemones, it feeds by trapping small animals and floating food particles with its stinging tentacles.