This timelapse footage shows a brown glass anemone activate its defence mechanism which takes the form of string-like tentacles.

The footage filmed in St. Augustine, Florida shows the anemone squirm around as the white string-like tentacles, named acontia, flail around. The acontia are used to sting predators if they come too close.

Hannah O, who filmed this video, told Newsflare: "This individual was removed from his tank and recorded post releasing a defensive mechanism; the white strings of acontia.

"The anemone is retracting the acontia, those white strings. They’re a type of stinger, in short, used when predators try to eat them or dislodge them from their spot.

"The flakes were our attempts to see if this anemone would eat; we took him out of his tank cause he wasn’t looking too good, but we noticed he was willing to try to eat, so he was put back into his tank. The flakes themselves are just TetraMin fish food; very small!"

This footage was filmed on March 12.

A group of undergrads at a small college are performing research on Brown Glass Anemones. This individual was removed from his tank and recorded post releasing a defensive mechanism; the white strings of acontia.

The anemone is retracting the acontia, those white strings. They’re a type of stinger, in short, used when predators try to eat them or dislodge them from their spot.

The flakes were our attempts to see if this anemone would eat; we took him out of his tank cause he wasn’t looking too good, but we noticed he was willing to try to eat, so he was put back into his tank. The flakes themselves are just Tetramin fish food; very small!