Stichodactyla is a genus of sea anemones, of the family Stichodactylidae. They are host anemones, which maintain a relationship mutualistic with other animals, in their case with crabs of the genus Mithraculus, shrimp of the genus Periclimenes , and with various species of clownfish, of the genus Amphiprion, establishing a relationship of coexistence. In this way, crabs and fish protect themselves from their predators between the stinging tentacles of the anemone, and the anemone benefits from the cleaning of its oral disc and tentacles as a result of the continuous movements of the animals.

Stichodactyla
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Hexacorallia
Order: Actiniaria
Family: Stichodactylidae
Genus: Stichodactyla
Brandt, 1835
Synonyms
  • Polyparium Korotneff, 1886
  • Stoichactis
Amphiprion polymnus in S. Haddoni
Amphiprion sandaracinos in Stichodactyla mertensii
Stichodactyla tapetum
Stichodactyla gigantea

Species

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The World Register of Marine Species accepts the following species:[1]

References

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  1. ^ Fautin, D. (2015). Stichodactyla. In: Fautin, Daphne G. 2011. Hexacorallians of the World. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=267869. Consultado el 17-08-2015.