This beautiful invertebrate is abundant on rocky reefs, ledges and pier pilings all along the Oregon Coast. They are usually found in tide pools and can be easily spotted at low tide.
Strawberry Anemones have a smooth column with knobby-tipped tentacles. Their colors can range between pinks, reds, purples, browns, oranges and whites.
As with most anemones, this animal cannot move quickly to pursue food. Instead, it relies on an unsuspecting fish or crustacean to come within range of its stinging tentacles. Once prey is stung, the tentacles will then draw it into the anemone’s mouth.
The Strawberry Anemone reproduces using a method called “longitudinal division” in which the animal produces clones of itself by splitting in half. As a result, you will usually find Strawberry Anemones in large clusters with all of the animals being descendants of one original anemone.
Strawberry Anemones can be found from British Columbia to southern California, although they are more rare north of Oregon.