Description: This sea anemone has a wide and moderately adherent base. The column is similar to Cylista elegans but suckers less conspicuous, acontia not very readily emitted. The tentacles are moderate in length, arranged in multiples of six, up to 200. Colour is extremely variable: column dull-greenish, whitish, buff, etc. usually with pale stripes at base. Disc with a pattern or plain, tentacles banded or plain. Occurs in most colours or combinations of these. Large form (decorata) typically up to 50mm across base, 100mm tall.

Habitat: On the shore or shallow sublittoral. Attaches to rocks, etc., but more commonly occurs buried in mud, sand or gravel, attached to a buried stone or shell. Occasional in brackish water. A small variety- ornata is frequent amongst rocks or mussels; this form is usually green or brown and rarely exceeds 15mm across its base.

Distribution: Common on all coasts of the British Isles except the English Channel, where it is infrequent. Occurs on all European coasts, including the Mediterranean.

Similar Species: Distinguished from Cereus pedunculatus by smaller number of tentacles and narrower disc; see also Cylista elegans for differences between these species.

Key Identification Features:

• Column with suckers, these usually have gravel stuck to them.
• Tentacles not more than 200, arranged in multiples of 6.

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

iNaturalist: Cylista troglodytes at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

WoRMS: Cylista troglodytes at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Cylista troglodytes (Price in Johnston, 1847). AphiaID: 855674.

Classification: Biota; Animalia; Cnidaria; Anthozoa; Hexacorallia; Actiniaria; Enthemonae; Metridioidea; Sagartiidae; Cylista