# Amplexidiscus

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{{Short description|Genus of sea anemones}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = ''Amplexidiscus fenestrafer''
| image = Amplexidiscus_fenestrafer_Maldives.JPG
| parent_authority = Dunn & Hamner, 1980
| taxon = Amplexidiscus fenestrafer
| authority = Dunn & Hamner, 1980<ref name="WoRMS">{{Cite WoRMS |author=Daphne Fautin |year=2013 |title=''Amplexidiscus fenestrafer'' Dunn & Hamner, 1980 |db=Hexacorallians |id=289401 |accessdate=May 21, 2013}}</ref>
| synonyms = * ''Discosoma fenestrafera'' <small>(Dunn & Hamner, 1980)</small>
}}

'''''Amplexidiscus fenestrafer''''', also known as the '''elephant ear anemone''', is a [species](/source/species) of [coral](/source/coral) belonging to the phylum [Cnidaria](/source/Cnidaria).<ref name="WoRMS"/> The name "elephant ear anemone" is a misnomer because it is actually a species of coral. It is the only species in the monotypic genus '''''Amplexidiscus'''''.<ref>{{cite WoRMS |year=2013 |title=''Amplexidiscus'' |db=Hexacorallians |id=267217 |accessdate=May 21, 2013}}</ref>

==Description==
The visible part of its body corresponds to its oral region and forms a flexible disc, when it is deployed, endowed with cone-shaped tentacles. Its diameter can reach {{convert|40|cm}} and its coloration is light beige to brown.<ref name="Vilcinskas">{{cite book |author=Andreas Vilcinskas |year=2002 |title=La vie sous-marine des tropiques |language=fr |trans-title=The underwater life of the tropics |publisher=[Editions Vigot](/source/Editions_Vigot) |isbn=9782711419036}}</ref>

==Distribution & habitat==
This [coral](/source/coral) is often forming small colony in {{convert|5|-|25|m}} depth on the top reef in tropical waters Indo-West Pacific area.<ref>{{EOL|1006437|Amplexidiscus fenestrafer}}</ref>

==Feeding==
Its diet is highly varied and goes from the production of its [zooxanthellae](/source/zooxanthellae) to numerous animals which find themselves trapped by the oral disk as [benthic](/source/benthic) [invertebrate](/source/invertebrate)s, [crustacean](/source/crustacean)s, [worms](/source/sea_worm), [echinoderm](/source/echinoderm)s and even [fish](/source/fish)es. When the prey is trapped and the anemone is starting its [digestion](/source/digestion), the lobed edges are raised towards the center of the disk and form a ball.<ref name="Vilcinskas"/>

==References==
{{Reflist|32em}}

{{Portal|Zoology}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q2844445}}

Category:Discosomidae
Category:Monotypic Cnidaria genera
Category:Hexacorallia genera
Category:Taxa described in 1980

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Amplexidiscus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amplexidiscus) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amplexidiscus?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.