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.

Action:

• Maintain the number of viable populations of the species and safeguard their habitat
• Maintain the range of the species
• Establish appropriate management of known sites.

Objectives: Records of new sites for this species, with details of habitat and population are always valuable. Send these to CEDaR, National Museums Northern Ireland, 153 Bangor Road, Cultra, Holywood, County Down, BT18 0EU. Tel 028 9039 5257 or e-mail cedar.info [at] nmni.com. If you are a diver, and interested in becoming involved in recording marine life in Northern Ireland through the Seasearch project, contact Claire Goodwin at claire.goodwin [at] gmail.com or look at the web site www.seasearch.org.uk (Northern Ireland web pages)

Conservation: Survey work is being conducted throughout Northern Ireland waters (including the north coast) by Northern Ireland Environment Agency for this and other species and habitats generally.

Strangford Lough is designated as an SAC under the EU Habitats Directive.

There is no Species Action Plan for Anemonactis mazeli; however, the UK Habitat Action Plan for Sublittoral Sands and Gravels has the following relevant objectives:

• protect the extent of a representative range of sublittoral sand and gravel habitats and communities
• protect the quality of a representative range of sublittoral sand and gravel habitats and communities.

The Inshore Sublittoral Sediment UK HAP also has the following objectives:

• protecting sites of conservation importance from damage through contamination and physical disturbance or excessive use (for example, nutrient enrichment, dredging and development)
• requiring EIAs for coastal developments to examine potential effects on nearshore areas
• monitoring any impact of dump sites on inshore sublittoral sediment habitats, communities and wildlife, and taking action as appropriate
• developing and implementing strategies for the conservation and management of the wider marine environment at local, regional and national levels. For example, integrated Coastal Management Plans, water quality objectives, pollution control and avoidance measures. Species recovery and habitat restoration programmes should be included.

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.

Literature:

Bruce, J.R., Colman, J.S. and Jones, N.S. (1963). Marine fauna of the Isle of Man. Liverpool: Liverpool University Press.

Howson, C.M. and Picton, B.E. (ed.) (1997). The species directory of the marine fauna and flora of the British Isles and surrounding seas. Ulster Museum and The Marine Conservation Society, Belfast and Ross-on-Wye. Belfast: Ulster Museum. [Ulster Museum publication, no. 276.].

Howson, C.M. and Picton, B.E. (ed.) (1999). The species directory of the marine fauna and flora of the British Isles and surrounding seas. CD-ROM Edition. Ulster Museum and The Marine Conservation Society, Belfast and Ross-on-Wye.

Manuel, R.L. (1988). British Anthozoa. Synopses of the British Fauna (New Series) (ed. D.M. Kermack & R.S.K. Barnes), The Linnean Society of London. Avon: The Bath Press. [Synopses of the British Fauna No. 18.].

MBA (Marine Biological Association) (1957). Plymouth Marine Fauna. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom.

NBN (National Biodiversity Network) (2002). National Biodiversity Network gateway. Environmental Information Centre and Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Monks Wood, and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough. http://www.searchnbn.net.

Wilson, E. (2004). Anemonactis mazeli. A sea anemone. Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Sub-programme [on-line]. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. [cited 26/03/2008]. http://www.marlin.ac.uk/species/Anemonactismazeli.htm.

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

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Allen & Mellon Environmental Ltd. (2026). Anemonactis mazeli. (Jourdan, 1880). [In] Priority species, Marine Biodiversity Portal NI. https://www2.habitas.org.uk/marbiop-ni/priorityaccounts.php?item=D13090. Accessed on 2026-07-28