Naturalis Biodiversity Center
Info
Scolanthus callimorphus is a rather inconspicuous sea anemone, which is native to parts of the European waters in shallow water depths.
In the area of Isla Tourisa, Ria de Arosa, northern Spain it can be observed in great numbers in a small tidal flat.
This burrowing sea anemone has an elongated column, up to 14cm high.
The base is rounded but not naked, the entire scapus is covered with a dense wrinkled cuticle.
The sea anemone has 16 long tentacles arranged in 2 different cycles, once 5 pieces and once 11 pieces.
The oral disc is cream, yellow-brown and dark purple-brown patterned, the tentacles are translucent, brownish towards the tips, mottled and with white bands.
Scolanthus callimorphus reaches a tentacle span of up to 1 cm.
Habitat:
The sea anemone occurs along coasts in mud, sand, or gravel, often near seagrass beds.
Similar species:
Recently, this species has been shown to be distinct from Edwardsia claparedii, with which it was previously confused.
Edwardsia claparedii has a naked aboral end; tentacles arranged in 8 + 8 pieces, with brown and white spots; and a different, less well-defined pattern on the oral disc.
Naming:
The elongate, distinctly darker, body column is reminiscent of a worm peeking out of the sediment; the translucent tentacles of the anemone are often only visible at second glance.
Synonyms:
Alfredus lucifugus (Fischer, 1888)
Edwardsia callimorpha (Gosse, 1853)
Edwardsia claparedii var. ornata
Edwardsia lucifuga Fischer, 1888
Isoedwardsia lucifuga (Fischer, 1888)
Isoedwardsia mediterranea Carlgren, 1931
In the area of Isla Tourisa, Ria de Arosa, northern Spain it can be observed in great numbers in a small tidal flat.
This burrowing sea anemone has an elongated column, up to 14cm high.
The base is rounded but not naked, the entire scapus is covered with a dense wrinkled cuticle.
The sea anemone has 16 long tentacles arranged in 2 different cycles, once 5 pieces and once 11 pieces.
The oral disc is cream, yellow-brown and dark purple-brown patterned, the tentacles are translucent, brownish towards the tips, mottled and with white bands.
Scolanthus callimorphus reaches a tentacle span of up to 1 cm.
Habitat:
The sea anemone occurs along coasts in mud, sand, or gravel, often near seagrass beds.
Similar species:
Recently, this species has been shown to be distinct from Edwardsia claparedii, with which it was previously confused.
Edwardsia claparedii has a naked aboral end; tentacles arranged in 8 + 8 pieces, with brown and white spots; and a different, less well-defined pattern on the oral disc.
Naming:
The elongate, distinctly darker, body column is reminiscent of a worm peeking out of the sediment; the translucent tentacles of the anemone are often only visible at second glance.
Synonyms:
Alfredus lucifugus (Fischer, 1888)
Edwardsia callimorpha (Gosse, 1853)
Edwardsia claparedii var. ornata
Edwardsia lucifuga Fischer, 1888
Isoedwardsia lucifuga (Fischer, 1888)
Isoedwardsia mediterranea Carlgren, 1931
