Beadlet Anemone
Actinia equina
These anemones are commonly red, but variants can be greenish or brownish. Underwater, they extend a ring of short tentacles to catch plankton and small invertebrates, but on exposed rocks, they pull in the tentacles, forming a glossy blob. On Lihou, they are plentiful in many pools, adding splashes of colour to the grey rocks at low tide.
- Habitat: Mid to lower shore on rocky coasts and in rockpools; often attached to rocks or under overhangs.
- When to See: Year-round
- Length: Oral disc up to ~5 cm across; column height similar