(photos of Adam Petrusek, Czech Republic: specimen from Red Sea)
(photo of Minh Nguyen, USA, specimen from reef tank)
This most conspicuous and often photographed warm-water species is often inhabited by anemonefishes. It is widely known as Heteractis magnifica, although its valid name is Radianthus magnifica. According to K.W. England (1988) Heteractis is a very different genus belonging to its own family Heteractinidae and characterized by moniliform tentacles with characteristic swellings or protuberances which may be blister-like or more frequently forming a band across tentacle. Indeed, the type species of Heteractis (Heteractis aurora) has very characteristic tentacles which differ considerably from long and smooth tentacles of Radianthus magnifica. Further, in Heteractis aurora, unlike members of Radianthus and most other Stichodactilidae the tentacles are not arranged in radial rows. Also Heteractis aurora has nematocysts of special sort which do not occur in Radianthus magnifica and other anemones of the family Stichodactylidae, this feature is considered as important.
Taxonomy:
Phylum Cnidaria
Class Anthozoa
Order Actiniaria
