Phylum: Cnidaria

Class: Anthozoa

Subclass: Hexacorallia

Order: Ceriantharia

Family: Cerianthidae

Scientific name: Cerianthus lloydii

 

Norwegian: -

(Rye - The Trondheim fjord / 12 meters / 1.17.2004)

Distribution: The Cerianthus lloydii is found along the entire Norwegian coast, all the way to the Barents sea. It prefers sandy substrate or gravel on depths between 2 and 100 meters.

It is not really possible to make a positive identification of many of the tube anemones from pictures alone. However, the Cerianthus lloydii is perhaps the most common of the small tube anemones in Norwegian waters, so I take my chances on this one.

Characteristics: As many as 70 long, tentacles surround a large number of smaller, inner tentacles. The tentacles are green, brown or white, sometimes with dark brown bands. They may reach a length of 5 cm. The marginal tentacles are bordering a large number of smaller, inner tentacles. The light, yellow body may reach a length of over 20 cm.

As most other tube anemones, it cannot retract its tentacles, but the entire animal will retract into its tube if disturbed.

All pictures: