Frilled anemone

The work of a curious fellow

This anemone was found all alone in 69 feet of water on one of the offshore ledges in Casco Bay. Normally we have seen these animals in groups in more shallow water.

Solitary frilled anemone

Notice the different color of the stalk of this anemone compared to the first example. It is common to see color variations among the same species. This individual is in about 25 feet of water on the wreck of the Miss Plum.

Orange frilled anemone

Here is an anemone garden on the pilot house roof of the Miss Plum, a wreck in about 40 feet of water. The anemone themselves are at a depth of about 25 feet.

Frilled anemone garden

We stumbled onto this group of yellow frilled anamone in about 65 feet of water, exploring the south shelf off Ragged Island. It was a bit of a challenge getting the ROV to sit still on the sloping rock face. Notice that two are conjoined at the base of the stalk.

Yellow frilled anemone

Here we found this little group of frilled anemone on the Ragged Island South Shelf in 70 feet of water. Notice the retracted anemone under the ROV's left skid. The central disk where the mouth opening is located is visible on the anemone in the foreground.

Frilled anemone group on rock

The frilled anemone seen here is just redeploying its tentacles after I inadvertently collided with it trying to position the ROV for the scene above. The depth of water is 70 feet on the Ragged Island South Shelf.

Frilled anemone deploying tentacles

Here we look across the top of a short row of frilled anemone. The scene was shot atop the pilot house of the Miss Plum. The depth of water was about 25 feet. These animals seem to be more tolerant of close neighbors than the other anemone varieties we find.

Frilled Anemones Close

This is a look at a typical frilled anamone. The stalks are usually yellow or orange with occasional green or white stalked individuals. This individual is on the wreck of the Miss Plum in about 25 feet of water. Notice the closed anemone in the background with the stalk fully retracted.

Orange and white frilled anemones

Notice that this frilled anemone's tentacle array is close packed and convoluted. This clip was shot on the wreck of the Miss Plum. The anemone is in about 25 feet of water.

Convoluted frilled anemone

Here we see a frilled anemone with what appears to be a button on top. I think this may be the first move in spreading tentacles after the animal has been in the bag with the door shut for a while. This clip was shot on the wreck of the Miss Plum. The anemone are in about 25 feet of water.

Frilled anemone preparing to open

This is a fairly close look at a frilled anemone's tentacles. This clip was shot on the wreck of the Miss Plum on 7/28/2008. The anemone are in about 25 feet of water.

Frilled anemone tentacles

Here we slipped the ROV in under the pilothouse roof with the ROV lights on to illuminate a frilled anemone. Notice the pink tint caused by the artificial lighting. This clip was shot on the wreck of the Miss Plum. The anemone are in about 25 feet of water.

Frilled anemone illuminated by artificial light