White cluster anemone (Parazoanthus anguicomus)

Distribution data supplied by the Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS). To interrogate UK data visit the NBN Atlas.Map Help

Summary

Description

A colonial anemone similar to Parazoanthus axinellae but polyps are generally larger, up to 25 mm tall and 8 mm diameter, with 34 -44 tentacles. The colouration of the whole colony is whitish, sometimes tinted with buff or pink.

Recorded distribution in Britain and Ireland

Western Ireland, western and northern Scotland.

Global distribution

-

Habitat

Found encrusting sponges, worm tubes, corals and stones. Generally occurs in deep water down to at least 400 m but also found in shallow coastal waters.

Depth range

-

Identifying features

  • Colonies encrusting, growth form varying considerably according to the substratum.
  • Basal coenenchyme may form broad, irregular expansions or narrow stolons which branch and anastomose.
  • Polyps usually set close together, up to 25mm tall and 8mm diameter.
  • Tentacles 34-44, typically 40-42.

Additional information

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Bibliography

  1. Howson, C.M. & Picton, B.E., 1997. The species directory of the marine fauna and flora of the British Isles and surrounding seas. Belfast: Ulster Museum. [Ulster Museum publication, no. 276.]

  2. 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 [Synopses of the British Fauna No. 18.]. DOI https://doi.org/10.1002/iroh.19810660505

Datasets

  1. Centre for Environmental Data and Recording, 2018. Ulster Museum Marine Surveys of Northern Ireland Coastal Waters. Occurrence dataset https://www.nmni.com/CEDaR/CEDaR-Centre-for-Environmental-Data-and-Recording.aspx accessed via NBNAtlas.org on 2018-09-25.

  2. NBN (National Biodiversity Network) Atlas. Available from: https://www.nbnatlas.org.

  3. OBIS (Ocean Biodiversity Information System),  2025. Global map of species distribution using gridded data. Available from: Ocean Biogeographic Information System. www.iobis.org. Accessed: 2025-05-21

Citation

This review can be cited as:

Wilson, E. 2008. Parazoanthus anguicomus White cluster anemone. In Tyler-Walters H. and Hiscock K. Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Reviews, [on-line]. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. [cited 21-05-2025]. Available from: https://www.marlin.ac.uk/species/detail/1212

Last Updated: 17/04/2008