Giant Green Anemone Exposed Among Tidal Mussels
Saturday, July 18th, 2026 at 3:02:55 PM · 2026/Schoolhouse Beach Tide Pools
A giant green anemone (Anthopleura xanthogrammica) is captured in a contracted state during low tide, its distinctive green and white-striped tentacles partially retracted around its oral disc. The anemone sits on a barnacle-encrusted rock, flanked by a dense colony of California mussels (Mytilus californianus) with their characteristic dark blue-black shells and attached barnacles. The shallow water pooled in the anemone's column reflects the greenish hue of its symbiotic algae (zoochlorellae), which give this species its vivid coloration. Small pebbles, shell fragments, and grit cling to the surrounding rock surface, adding texture and detail to this intimate intertidal scene. The close-up composition effectively conveys the rich biodiversity of the Pacific coast tidal zone.
Chronologically Adjacent
