Student Project Figures Figure 7 Mechanism of sea anemone prey capture and ingestion. Prior to contact, tentacles are outstretched and normal ciliary currents flow outward from the pharynx (arrow) (A). Following contact and discharge of nematocysts and spirocysts, longitudinal muscle contractions of the tentacle allow it to fold towards the mouth (B) and shorten (C). Chemical stimuli induce reversal of ciliary beating (arrows) to direct prey towards the central mouth, and contractions of radial oral disc muscles (D) and retractor muscles of the mesenteries (E) result in protrusion of the mouth and ingestion of prey. Adapted from Shick (1991). Figure 6 Figure 7