photos of Dirk Schories: specimens from Chile (Strait of Magellan) and Antarctic (King George Island)
Dactylanthus antarcticus is a very unusual species distributed around Antarctic and in southern tip of South America (including Strait of Magellan). This species lives and feeds on gorgonarians. For a long time this species was separated from true sea anemones (order Actiniaria) and considered to be a member of the order Ptycodactiaria, but now this order is treated as a suborder Ptychodactae within Actiniaria. This group includes only three species: Dactylanthus antarcticus, South African Preactis millardae, and Arctic and North Pacific Ptychodactis patula.
Taxonomy:
Phylum Cnidaria
Class Anthozoa
Order Actiniaria
