Pachycerianthus multiplicatus
Pachycerianthus multiplicatus, commonly known as the firework anemone, is a type of tube anemone in the Cerianthidae family. It lives on sheltered, muddy seabeds from about 10 to 130 meters deep, where it builds a long tube that can extend through the mud for up to a meter, keeping the animal in one place.
Each firework anemone has up to 200 tentacles that can be white or white with brown stripes, reaching as long as 30 centimeters. They have weak stinging cells, so they mainly feed on very small prey. When disturbed, their tentacles curl into spirals instead of retracting.
This species is found around the UK (Scotland and Ireland) and in parts of Scandinavia. In Ireland, there are two known sites: Kilkieran Bay and Kenmare River. In Scotland, they live in sea lochs along the western coast.
Firework anemones feed on planktonic arrow worms of the genus Sagitta and cannot eat larger prey due to their weak stinging cells. Information about their lifespan and how their larvae disperse is not known. They have limited dispersal, which makes them vulnerable to habitat changes.
They reproduce sexually, with eggs released by females after stimulation by male sperm. The biggest threats to firework anemones are disturbance of the mud from bottom trawling and scallop dredging, which can damage their habitat.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 17:50 (CET).