This animal has two sets of gills, a heart, and two kidneys. An alarmed limpet contracts its foot muscle to grip the rock surface like a suction cup. Dislodged limpets are unable to right themselves, and are soon eaten by sea stars and other predators. Their many tentacles have stinging cells, called nematocysts, for paralyzing prey. When disturbed or feeding, they force water out of the body column and fold inward, pulling tentacles and food toward the central stomach.
Anemones feed on fish, shrimp and plankton.
Tentacles can be regenerated and their number increases with age. Enemies include snails, crabs, fish and sea stars. They are found singularly or in aggregate communities depending on species. Tide pool species often have shell fragments and sand covering the outside of the body column. As a crab grows, it sheds or molts its shell.