Venus flytrap sea anemone

This sea anemone is found in muddy situations at bathyal depths in deep water canyons in the Gulf of Mexico. It has also been observed at several sites in the upwelling region off the coast of West Africa as well as the American Samoan region of the Pacific, but is uncommon elsewhere. ==Biology==

Venus flytrap sea anemone is a passive suspension feeder, and orients itself on its often slender column so that it faces the upwelling current. Although usually considered sessile, the Venus flytrap sea anemone sometimes moves, particularly as a juvenile. In 2004 a mass mortality event occurred adjoining an oil pipeline off the Ivory Coast. Large numbers of the tunicate Pyrosoma atlanticum were involved, the moribund carcasses sinking to the seabed and accumulating in canyons and by the pipeline. Species found feeding on the gelatinous detritus varied by depth. At a depth of few fish were present, but Venus flytrap sea anemones were numerous. Other necrophagous invertebrates at this depth included the sea anemone Actinostola sp., the sea pen Pennatula sp., the sea urchins Phormosoma sp. and Mesothuria sp., brittle stars in the family Ophiolepididae, the penaeid shrimp Parapenaeus sp. and the sea spider Colossendeis sp. ==References==