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