Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Cnidaria

Class: Anthozoa

Order: Actiniaria

Family: Actinostolidae

Genus: Paranthus

Species: P. rapiformis

Description

P. rapiformisis a small white sea anemone which burrows into the sediment, usually subtidally, but it may be exposed at extreme low water. Their Body is soft, translucent. The can varies from color pink to cream, reddish brown to greenish gray, It has longitudinal stripes, when closed, body is round, resembling a “cocktail onion” body can elongate greatly sometimes looking worm-like, base sometimes flares out into a bulb-like shape. They have tentacles that are colorless to light brown or translucent. it is commonly 8 cm (3 in) long and 2.5 cm (1 in) wide, but can be much larger, however it collapses if the sea anemone is removed. A dislodged anemone may adopt a globular shape and be rolled about on the sand by the sea until it finds a less turbulent place where it can burrow. The base of the column is expanded which anchors it in place, and it is usually attached to a submerged stone or shell. When covered with water, the short tentacles spread out over the surface of the sand. When it is disturbed, the tentacles retract and the column inflates to form a globular shape; this is translucent, with longitudinal white stripes, and resembles a small onion. As a burrowing sea anemone, the pedal disc of P. rapiformis is replaced by a rounded end known as a “physa” which is used for digging. First the physa is pushed into the soft sediment, then the anemone swells its body wall to anchor itself in place while pushing the physa further into the sand. Now it inflates the physa and deflates the body wall, using its strong longitudinal muscles to draw the upper part towards the base, during which process, the physa inverts. These two steps are repeated as it works its way deeper into the sediment.

Reference

http://txmarspecies.tamug.edu/invertdetails.cfm?scinameID=Paranthus%20rapiformis

https://www.si.edu/object/nmnhinvertebratezoology_810802