Description: The base of this sea anemone is closely adherent. The column is similar to that in Sagartia species, but flaring out, trumpet-shaped, to the wide disc. There are suckers on the column usually with gravel stuck to them. The tentacles are short and very numerous - more than 1000 in large specimens. The diameter of the disc may reach 100mm or more. The column is typically grey-brown, darker, almost purplish above; sometimes yellowish, pink, or reddish. The disc is often patterned and usually minutely flecked with white. Many colour varieties occur - brown, blue-grey, yellowish, typically variegated with purple, black, white, scarlet, etc.; a plain brown variety is common in some regions. Reproduces viviparously, often producing numerous young.

Habitat: Found on the shore in pools and gullies, typically with the base inserted into a deep crevice; or buried in mud or sand, attached to some buried object. Also occurs sublittorally on sand scoured rocks, often partly buried in sand, to at least 50m.

Distribution: A common species on the south and west coasts of the British Isles, all around southwest Europe and in the Mediterranean.

Similar Species: Sagartia troglodytes, Cereus pedunculatus and Sagartia elegans all possess suckers on the column. In the first two of these species the suckers usually have gravel stuck to them.

Key Identification Features:

• Column with suckers; these usually have gravel stuck to them.
• Disc wide, tentacles very numerous - more than 200 in moderate sized individuals.
• Acontia present, readily emitted.

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

iNaturalist: Cereus pedunculatus at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

WoRMS: Cereus pedunculatus at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Cereus pedunculatus (Pennant, 1777). AphiaID: 100987.

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