The structure of the reproductive mesenteries of the sea anemoneCeriantheopsis americanus

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Abstract
The burrowing hermaphroditic anemone, Ceriantheopsis americanus, lives in a mucus-lined tube in sandy bottomed grass-flat areas of Tampa Bay. In this hermaphroditic species ova and sperm cysts are interspersed throughout the coupled mesenteries. The gonads occur in every other coupled mesentery beginning with the third couple. A mesentery consists of two layers of flagellated gastrodermis separated by a layer of mesoglea. The mature sperm is arrow-shaped and resembles those of other ceriantids. Ceriantheopsis americanus appears capable of self-fertilization as eggs fertilized by sperm from the same individual have produced viable embryos which have undergone cleavage.