page_title: List of cnidarians of Ireland
section_title: Family Actiniidae
hierarchical_section_title: List of cnidarians of Ireland / Class Anthozoa / Order Actiniaria (sea anemones) / Family Actiniidae
caption_attribution_description: Actinia fragacea (Strawberry Anemone). The lower shore line at low tide, Lundy, Bristol Channel, UK.
context_page_description: There are 302 species of cnidarians recorded in Ireland.
  The cnidarians' distinguishing feature is cnidocytes, specialized cells that they use mainly for capturing prey. Their bodies consist of mesoglea, a non-living jelly-like substance, sandwiched between two layers of epithelium that are mostly one cell thick. They have two basic body forms: swimming medusae and sessile polyps, both of which are radially symmetrical with mouths surrounded by tentacles that bear cnidocytes. Both forms have a single orifice and body cavity that are used for digestion and respiration. Many cnidarian species produce colonies that are single organisms composed of medusa-like or polyp-like zooids, or both.
  Cnidarians found in Ireland and Irish waters include sea pens, sea anemones, hydroids, sea jellies and corals.
context_section_description: Actinia equina (beadlet anemone)
  Actinia fragacea (strawberry anemone)
  Anemonia viridis (snakelocks anemone)
  Anthopleura ballii (red speckled anemone)
  Aulactinia verrucosa (gem anemone)
  Urticina eques
  Urticina felina (northern red anemones, dahlia anemone)
caption: Actinia fragacea (strawberry anemone)
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