Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Anthopleura stellula (Actiniaria, Actiniidae) and its reproduction by transverse fission

  • Published:
Marine Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Anthopleura stellula Ehrenberg 1834, a sea anemone from Eilat, Red Sea, is redescribed in detail and shown to be synonymous with Anthopleura elatensis England 1969. Asexual reproduction by autonomous transverse fission has been observed over a period of 8 months in A. stellula maintained in Mediterranean seawater (37.0 to 37.5‰ S). Fission always occurs at the same level, below the pharynx, and is followed by an asynchronous regenerative process beginning at the initial point of cleavage. The distal portion of a bisected anemone regenerates a new pedal disc, while pharyngeal formation is induced by the mesenteries of the first-budding directive tentacle in the proximal half; the original oral disc pattern is restored. After regeneration has been completed, the newly formed anemone can similarly engage in transverse fission. The fission process spreads infectionsly. If Bunodactis verrucosa, a Mediterranean anemone, is maintained in the same aquarium with A. stellula then the beginnings of fission followed by dedifferentiation are observed in the Mediterranean species, which does not ordinarily reproduce asexually. A. stellula still exhibits its induced ability to divide transversly if transferred into fresh Mediterranean seawater. When these specimens are exposed to low temperatures (12° to 13°C) for 2 months, fission activity still remains, but for only one division; there is no further fission, and no regeneration of a pedal disc. Abrupt increases in salinity to the salinity level of the Red Sea (40.0 to 41.0‰) interrupt the fission activity and pedal disc regeneration. A. stellula incised at the level where fission usually occurs promptly undergo transverse fission if cultured with other dividing anemones. However, the other anemones merely exhibit wound healing if the salinity is high. It is thought that fission and regeneration are induced by stimulating substances produced by the anemones during low salinity conditions and that the stimulating substances accumulate in the aquarium water.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature cited

  • Abeloos, M. M.: Régénération et morphogénèse chez Actinia equina L. C.r. Ass. fr. Avanc. Sci. 74, 361–363 (1955).

    Google Scholar 

  • —: Sur la “dominance” de la bouche des actinies. C. r. hebd. Séanc. Acad. Sci., Paris 247, 139–141 (1958).

    Google Scholar 

  • Andres, A.: Intorno alla scissiparità delle attinie. Pubbl. Staz. zool. Napoli (Mitt. zool. Stn Neapel). 3, 124–148 (1882).

    Google Scholar 

  • —: Le attinie. Fauna Flora Golf. Neapel. 9, 1–459 (1884).

    Google Scholar 

  • Blochmann, F. and C. Hilger: Über Gonactinia prolifera Sars, eine durch Quertheilung sich vermehrende Actinie. Morph. Jb. 13, 385–401 (1888).

    Google Scholar 

  • Brandt, J. F.: Prodromus descriptionem animalium ab H. Mertensio in orbis terrarum circumnavigatione observatorum. Recl Act. Séance sol. Acad. imp. Sci. St. Pétersbourg 201–275 (1835).

  • Broderick, F. N.: On the transverse fission of Aiptasia couchii. Zoologist 18, 6911–6912 (1860).

    Google Scholar 

  • Burnett, A. L.: A model of growth and cell differentiation in Hydra. Am. Nat. 100, 165–190 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  • Carlgren, O.: Ostafrikanische Aktinien. Mitt. naturh. Mus. Hamb. 17, 21–144 (1900).

    Google Scholar 

  • —: Studien über Regenerations-und Regulationserscheinungen. II. Ergänzende Untersuchungen an Actiniarien. K. svenska Vetensk-Akad. Handl. 43, 3–48 (1909).

    Google Scholar 

  • —: Zur Regeneration der Actiniarien. Z. Morph. Ökol. Tiere 5, 150–154 (1926).

    Google Scholar 

  • —: Zur Biologie und Regeneration der niederen Actiniarien. Z. Morph. Ökol. Tiere 14, 522–530 (1929).

    Google Scholar 

  • —: A survey of the Ptychodactiaria, Corallimorpharia and Actiniaria. K. svenska Vetensk-Akad. Handl. 1, 1–121 (1949).

    Google Scholar 

  • Child, C. M.: From regulation in Cerianthus. 1. The typical course of regeneration. Biol. Bull. mar. biol. Lab., Woods Hole 5, 239–260 (1903a).

    Google Scholar 

  • —: From regulation in Cerianthus. 2. The effect of position, size and other factors upon regeneration. Biol. Bull. mar. biol. Lab., Woods Hole 5, 304–319 (1903b).

    Google Scholar 

  • —: Factors of form regulation in Harenactis attenuata. 1. Wound reaction and restitution in general and the regional factors in oral restitution. J. exp. Zool. 6, 471–506 (1909).

    Google Scholar 

  • Cotronei, G.: Doppie formazioni, scissiparità e rigenerazion nelle attinie. Pubbl. Staz. zool. Napoli 5, 199–273 (1924).

    Google Scholar 

  • Davis, C.: One equals two. A sea anemone achieves its plurality in singular fashion. Nat. Hist., N.Y. 71, 61–63 (1962).

    Google Scholar 

  • Ehrenberg, C. G.: Die Corallenthiere des rothen Meeres. Berlin: Königl. Akad. Wiss. 1834.

    Google Scholar 

  • England, K. W.: Anthopleura elatensis n. sp. (Actiniidae: Actiniaria) from the Red Sea. Israel J. Zool. 18, 1–7 (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  • Hand, C.: The sea anemones of central California. Part 2. The endomyarian and mesomyarian anemones. Wasmann J. Biol. 13, 37–99 (1955).

    Google Scholar 

  • Hazen, A. P.: The regeneration of an oesophagus in the anemone, Sagartia luciae. Arch. EntwMech. Org. 14, 592–599 (1902).

    Google Scholar 

  • —: Regeneration in the anemone, Sagartia luciae. Arch. EntwMech. Org. 16, 365–376 (1903).

    Google Scholar 

  • Holdworth, E. W. H.: On the transverse fission of Aiptasia couchii. Zoologist 18, 6945–6946 (1860).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kerb, H.: Studien über die ungeschlechtliche Fortpflanzung der Gonactinia prolifera Sars. Bergens Mus. Årb. 3, 1–14 (1913).

    Google Scholar 

  • Klunzinger, C. B.: Die Korallthiere des rothen Meeres. Berlin: Gutmann 1877.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kotodzifjski, M. Z.: Untersuchungen über die Regeneration der Fußscheibe bei Actinia equina L. Bull. int. Acad. pol. Sci. Lett. (Ser. B) 153–187 (1932).

  • Landauer, W.: Laceration, Knospung und Heteromorphose bei Actinia equina L. Z. Morph. Ökol. Tiere 3, 177–187 (1925).

    Google Scholar 

  • —: Zur Regeneration der Actiniarien. Z. Morph. Ökol. Tiere 6, 586–587 (1926).

    Google Scholar 

  • Laubier, L. and H. Schmidt: Le genre Staurosoma Will (copépode parasite d' actinies) en Mer Rouge Crustaena (In press).

  • Louis, C.: Modalités et déterminisme expérimental de la scissiparité chez l'actinie Anemonia sulcata Pennant. C. r. hebd. Séan. Acad. Sci., Paris 251, 134–136 (1960).

    Google Scholar 

  • Macklin, M.: Analysis of growth factor gradients in Hydra. J. cell. comp. Physiol. 72, 1–8 (1968).

    Google Scholar 

  • Milne Edwards, H.: Histoire naturelle des coralliaires ou polypes proprement dits. Vol. 1.326 pp. Libraire encyclopédique de Roret, Paris 1857.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miyawaki, M.: Notes on the effect of low salinity on an actinian Diadumene luciae. J. Fac. Sci. Hokkaido Univ. (Ser. 6) 10, 123–126 (1951).

    Google Scholar 

  • —: Temperature as a factor influecing upon the fission of the orange-striped sea-anemone, diadumene luciae. J. Fac. Sci. Hokkaido Univ. (Ser. 6) 11, 77–80 (1952).

    Google Scholar 

  • Moszkowski, M.: Die Ersatzreaktionen bei Aktinien (Actinia equina und Actinoloba dianthus). Arch. EntwMech. Org. 24, 411–433 (1907).

    Google Scholar 

  • Oren, O. H.: A note on the hydrography of the Gulf of Eylath. Bull. Sea Fish. Res. Stn 30, 3–14 (1962).

    Google Scholar 

  • Prouho, H.: Observations sur la Gonactinia prolifera (Sars) draguée dans la Méditerranée. Archs Zool. exp. gén. (Ser. 2) 9, 247–254 (1891).

    Google Scholar 

  • Safriel, U. and Y. Lipkin: Note on the intertidal zonation of the rocky shores at Eilat (Red Sea, Israel). Israel J. Zool. 13, 187–190 (1964).

    Google Scholar 

  • Sars, M.: Beskrivelser og iagttagelser over nogle merkelige eller nye i havet ved den Bergenske kyst levende dyr af Polypernes, Acalephernes, Radiaternes, Annilidernes og Molluskernes classer. Bergen: 1835.

  • Schmidt, H.: A note on the sea-anemone bunodactis verrucosa Pennant. Pubbl. Staz. zool. Napoli 35, 252–253 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  • —: Die Nesselkapseln der Aktinien und ihre differential-diagnostiche Bedeutung. Helgoländer wiss. Meeresunters. 19, 284–317 (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  • Singer, I. I. and J. D. Palmer: Tentacular and oral-disc regeneration in the sea anemone, Aiptasia diaphana. 1. Sequential morphological events in distal-end restitution. J. Morph. 127, 373–382 (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  • Stephenson, T. A.: The British sea anemones. Pt 1. London: The Ray Soc. 1928. (Monogr. Ray Soc. 113).

  • Stephenson, T. A.: The British sea anemones. Pt 2. London: The Ray Soc. 1935. (Monogr. Ray Soc. 121).

  • Will, F.: Über Staurosoma, einen in den Aktinien lebenden Schmarotzer. Arch. Naturgesch. 10, 337–342 (1844).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. H. Schmidt

    Present address: Zoologisches Institut der Justus Liebig-Universität, Gießen, Germany (FRG)

Authors and Affiliations

    Authors
    1. H. Schmidt
      View author publications

      You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

    Additional information

    Communicated by O. Kinne, Hamburg

    Rights and permissions

    Reprints and permissions

    About this article

    Cite this article

    Schmidt, H. Anthopleura stellula (Actiniaria, Actiniidae) and its reproduction by transverse fission. Marine Biology 5, 245–255 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00346912

    Download citation

    • Accepted:

    • Issue Date:

    • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00346912

    Keywords

    Search

    Navigation