Blind anemones

[BonsaiNut]

Anemone trivia info:

Did you know all anemones are "blind"? It is the single greatest mystery involving anemone science - scientists cannot find any type of photosensitive structure in an anemone's makeup. However anemones have been shown to respond to light and absence of light, and many will respond dramatically when a shadow passes over them on a sunny day. And yet no one knows how they can sense it Anemones have very simple biological structures - and they have been examined down to the most minute level. But no one knows how they "see".

 

[this is me]

Interesting.
How about for clams? Do they find photosensitve structure in clams? You put your hand under the light and the clam will react! This is quite amazing.

 

[elegance coral]

T. clams do have eyes. Well, at least very primitive light sensing cells.

This is a very interesting topic to me, and I've given it quite a bit of thought. The only thing I can think of is that the animal is picking up chemical cues from its zooxanthellae. Chemicals produced by the zooxanthellae change as the light they are exposed to changes. What really has me puzzled is that my magnifica, back when I first got it, would ball up when the MH's would go off. Now, the anemone starts balling up a few minutes before the MH's go off. How does an animal with no brain tell time with an accuracy of just a few minutes?

 

[demonnite57]

Maybe it has something to do with the zooxanthellae? I don't know much personally, but as just stated maybe they are sending off chemical cues/signals that alert the anemone as to what is going on?

 

[cet98]

perhaps we're overlooking something....

perhaps we're overlooking something....

maybe nems have........ :idea:


"Spidey-Sense"

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OK...I'm done....:sad1: