(Thelenota ananas and Boloceroides mcmurrichi)
This sea cucumber ("pineapple"-seacucumber) was actually covered with these swimming anemones, some small brittle stars, shrimps and some dark gobies. I asked myself, why.
I found this sea cucumber (holothurian) on a sandy area, some distance away from the reef. I think the sea cucumber was like a oasis in the middle of a desert - it attracted a lot of animals that were looking for shelter, food or just a ride over the sand.
This anemone is called "swimming" anemone in German, because they can swim some distance by waving their tentacles in spirals. They can be found in large numbers (for example living on this sea cucumber) because they multiply asexually by dividing.
Terumbu Kili, Redang island, Malaysia, 21.7.99
Taken with a Sea and Sea Motomarine II EX , 1:2 lens, F 22
. Copyright Teresa Zubi