Anemonia viridis (Forsskål, 1775)

Snakelocks anemone

Description: The long, sinuous tentacles of this sea anemone are rarely retracted (although retractile). The column is smooth, with a row of inconspicuous warts on the rim of the parapet. The colour of the column is brownish or greyish; tentacles are similar or bright green, usually with bright purple tips and red bases. Span of tentacles up to 200mm but usually less than that in British specimens.

Habitat: Usually found in open situations exposed to the light. On the shore in pools, on rocks or sea-weed (eel-grass or kelp) and in the shallow sublittoral down to about 20m.

Distribution: Common, locally very abundant on south and west coasts of the British Isles; around southwest Europe to the Mediterranean and probably west Africa.

Similar Species: In the past brown individuals of this species have been confused with Aiptasia mutabilis.

Key Identification Features:

• Long tentacles that are rarely retracted.
• Smooth column with warts on parapet.

Distribution Map from BioMar data for Ireland - Google Earth map:  download this placemark (not got Google Earth installed?)

Distribution Map from NBN: JNCC MNCR Seasearch data - Grid map : Interactive map : National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.