Figure 3. Anemone acontia ejection and retraction cycle.

(1) first stimulation caused body contraction and increased water pressure; (2) repeated stimulations prompted anemone defensive state and acontia ejection; (3) deflated oral disk and tentacles for maximum water expulsion; (4) anemone entered recovery state when stimulations ceased; (5) open siphonoglyphs intake water and closed mouth hold water volume, tentacles inflated and oral disk exposed; (6) generation of negative water pressure and elongation of body column pulled acontia back into body, process lasted for 40–50 min.