This is a large, pale, burrowing anemone with stout blunt tentacles, found from several locations along the north coast, and a single location in Strangford Lough. It has been suggested that the species found in Strangford Lough may be different from those recorded under this name from Plymouth and other suitable areas to the south of this.

In brief

• A rare anemone; in Northern Ireland, found only in Strangford Lough and the north coast
• Inhabits sands and muds to depths down to 1,000m
• Can be found throughout the year
• A priority on account of its rarity, and threats to its known sites
• Likely to be vulnerable to seabed disruption.

Species description: The main body of the anemone is a pale elongate column about 120mm in length, buried in mud or sand and often encrusted with sediment particles. It has 20 stout tentacles, each a cylindrical shaft with a knob at the end. The diameter across the tentacle crown is about 60mm, and at the centre of this, the disc has dark radial lines against (variously) a cream to orange background. The animal’s general colour varies from translucent to various shades of white, cream and orange.

Life cycle: The life cycle is not known; however, the conservation status of the species is likely to be dependent, in part, on the ability to produce mobile larvae, and the extent of their dispersal.

Similar species: None.

How to see this species: This anemone may be found subtidally at depths variously reported from the shallow sublittoral to 1,000m, burrowed quite deeply in sands and muds. It can be seen throughout the year. In Northern Ireland it has been found in Strangford Lough (Bird Island Passage), and off the Portrush Skerries, and Portstewart Point. Further afield, it occurs on all the main coasts of Ireland.

Current status: The species is known only from Strangford Lough and the north coast. The species has no legal protection status.

Why is this species a priority in Northern Ireland? Rare, confined to a small number of sites within two localised areas of Northern Ireland. Listed as a UK Species of Conservation Concern: nationally scarce marine species.

Threats: Trends of populations and distribution of the species are not known. However its sand and mud habitats are vulnerable to disruption by use of bottom fishing gear, and both Strangford Lough and the north coast have been subject to this.

Distribution Map from NBN: Anemonactis mazeli at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Anemonactis mazeli at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

WoRMS: Anemonactis mazeli at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Anemonactis mazeli (Jourdan, 1880). AphiaID: 100924.

Classification: Biota; Animalia; Cnidaria; Anthozoa; Hexacorallia; Actiniaria; Enthemonae; Actinioidea; Haloclavidae; Anemonactis