sea anemones text index | photo index
Phylum Cnidaria > Class Anthozoa > Subclass Zoantharia/Hexacorallia > Order Actiniaria
Brown peachia anemone
Synpeachia temasek
Family Haloclavidae
updated Nov 2019

Where seen? This small anemone with a few fat tentacles that spread out flat is seen on some of our shores, especially in sheltered sandy areas. It is small and usually retracted into the sand at low tide so it may actually be quite common but overlooked. Synpeachia temasek is a new genus and new species described from Singapore!

Features: Diameter with tentacles expanded 4-5cm. One ring of 20 tentacles that are thick at the base and tapering at the tips. It has a reddish-brown body column. It is usually seen with its tentacles flat on the surface, spaced out equally so that the anemone resembles a star. The oral disk and tentacles often have V-shaped chevron patterns in shades of white, pink, beige and brown. A structure of 3-5 bumps in the middle of the mouth that sometimes protrudes out of the mouth called a conchula.

Sometimes mistaken for Common peachia anemone (Metapeachia tropica) which looks similar but has a cream-colored column and 16 tentacles.

An 'uprooted' Peachia anemone is often mistaken for a sea cucumber or a worm. Here's more on how to tell apart sausage-like creatures.

'Uprooted' anemone.
Changi, Jun 13

Bumps in the middle of the mouth.
Changi, Aug 12

With tentacles tucked in.
Changi, Jun 13

Brown peachia anemones on Singapore shores
On wildsingapore flickr

Other sightings on Singapore shores


Chek Jawa, Aug 13

Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on flickr.

References

  • Nicholas Wei Liang Yap, Daphne Gail Fautin, Dino Angelo Ramos, and Ria Tan (2014) Sea anemones of Singapore: Synpeachia temasek new genus, new species, and redescription of Metapeachia tropica (Cnidaria: Actiniaria: Haloclavidae). Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington: October 2014, Vol. 127, No. 3, pp. 439-454.
links | references | about | email Ria
Spot errors? Have a question? Want to share your sightings? email Ria I'll be glad to hear from you!
wildfactsheets website©ria tan 2008