Fireworks anemone ©Paul Naylor www.marinephoto.co.uk
Fireworks anemone © Cathy Lewis
Fireworks anemone
Scientific name
Pachycerianthus multiplicatusThis rare anemone lives up to its name with a spectacular display of long, white tentacles.
Species information
Category
Statistics
Tentacles: up to 30cm acrossColumn: up to 30cm tall
Conservation status
Nationally rare. Listed in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan as a species of conservation concern.
When to see
January to DecemberAbout
The fireworks anemone is found on muddy seabeds, usually in water between 10 and 130 metres deep. Unlike the more familiar rockpool anemones that attach themselves to rocks, this is a burrowing anemone. It lives within a tube in the seafloor, which can be over a metre long. It has two rings of tentacles - short ones around its mouth, with longer ones around the outside. It can't retract its tentacles like some anemones do, but may coil them up if it's disturbed.How to identify
A deep water anemone with an elongated body and two rings of tentacles. The inner tentacles are short, stiff and pale brown. The outer tentacles are very long and white, sometimes with brown rings.Distribution
Mainly found in sea lochs on the western coast of Scotland.Habitats
Did you know?
There can be up to 200 tentacles in its outer ring.
Mark Hamblin/2020VISION
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