Giant Green Anemones Exposed at Low Tide
Saturday, July 18th, 2026 at 3:13:57 PM · 2026/Schoolhouse Beach Tide Pools
This close-up photograph captures two giant green anemones (Anthopleura xanthogrammica) in a rocky intertidal zone during low tide exposure. The anemones have retracted their tentacles into a bowl-like formation, revealing their vivid fluorescent green coloration — the result of symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae and zoochlorellae) living within their tissue. Their column walls are studded with adhered sand grains, small pebbles, and shell fragments, a characteristic behavior that helps camouflage and protect them from desiccation. The surrounding environment shows dark wet rock, mussels, and other intertidal organisms typical of the Pacific Coast rocky shoreline. The image conveys the alien beauty and resilience of intertidal life caught between the tides.
Chronologically Adjacent
