Parazoanthus axinellae - Marine Life Encyclopedia

Parazoanthus axinellae (Schmidt, 1862)

Parazoanthus axinellae

Description: This sea anemone is colonial, forming encrustations of variable thickness and shape. Each polyp has a serrated parapet and pointed tentacles of moderate length; the wall and base may be encrusted with sand. There are up to 34 tentacles, polyps are up to 20mm tall. The colour is usually yellow, often orange around mouth.

Habitat: Found in open coast rocky habitats attached to rocks and sponges, often on vertical faces or beneath overhangs, from 6-100m depth.

Distribution: Southern and western coasts of the British Isles, south to the Mediterranean and north to Rathlin Island, Northern Ireland, with one Scottish record.

Similar Species: Parazoanthus axinellae and Parazoanthus anguicomus are distinguishable by tentacle numbers, size and colour. Parazoanthus axinellae forms discrete clumps while Parazoanthus anguicomus tends to form more extensive sheets. Larger and different in colour from Isozoanthus sulcatus and Epizoanthus couchii.

Key Identification Features:

Yellow coloration.
Numerous individuals arising in clumps from thin or thick basal encrustations.
Tentacles pointed, not as long as in Epizoanthus.

Distribution Map: NBN map : National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

WoRMS: Species record : World Register of Marine Species.

iNaturalist: Species account : iNaturalist World Species Observations database

Picton, B.E. & Morrow, C.C. (2016). Parazoanthus axinellae (Schmidt, 1862). [In] Encyclopedia of Marine Life of Britain and Ireland.
https://www.habitas.org.uk/marinelife/species.asp?item=D11150 Accessed on 2023-12-11

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