Description: The column of this burrowing sea anemone is elongated and worm-like; divided into scapus and scapulus. The scapus has a soft, adherent cuticle, and a naked rounded base. The tentacles are very long when fully expanded, 16 in number, arranged in two distinct cycles of 8. Length of column up to 80mm when fully extended, span of tentacles to 40mm. The disc is patterned with white and maroon, the tentacles are transparent, unspotted, with a white ring at the base and sometimes a little white coloration near the tip.

Habitat: Burrows in mud or sandy mud; when expanded only the disc and tentacles protrude above the substrate. Occurs in sheltered situations in shallow water.

Distribution: Only known from the vicinity of Valentia Island, SW Ireland.

Similar Species: Edwardsia claparedii, is variable in colour and may have only white markings on the disc but has spots and markings on the tentacles as well as the disc.

Key Identification Features:

• Elongated, worm-like column correlated to burrowing habit.
• 16 long, transparent tentacles, unspotted.
• Disc transparent with white and maroon curved markings.

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

iNaturalist: Edwardsia delapiae at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

WoRMS: Edwardsia delapiae at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Edwardsia delapiae Carlgren & Stephenson, 1928. AphiaID: 100883.

Classification: Biota; Animalia; Cnidaria; Anthozoa; Hexacorallia; Actiniaria; Anenthemonae; Edwardsioidea; Edwardsiidae; Edwardsia