Sea anemones (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Actiniaria) of Moreton Bay

Abstract

Nineteen species of sea anemones *sensu stricto* (Anthozoa: Zoantharia: Actiniaria) are documented from the Moreton Bay region in eastern Australia, based primarily on specimens observed and collected during the Moreton Bay International Marine Biological Workshop in February 2005. Each species is taxonomically diagnosed, and information on the distribution of these species elsewhere in Australia is provided based on new field observations and museum records. Three species (*Anthopleura handi*, *A. buddemeieri* and *Verrillactis paguri*) were not previously recorded from Australia. *Actinia australiensis* was previously known only from south of Moreton Bay, and *Gyractis sesere* was recorded from eastern Australia for the first time. An unidentified species of *Diadumene* was found, providing the first record of the genus from Australia. A key to the 18 fully identified species is included. The sea anemone fauna reported in this paper is predominantly tropical to subtropical, with 14 species known primarily from the tropics, and four known primarily from the temperate zone; the other was not identified to species.