Sandalled Anemone

Actinothoe sphyrodeta

The sandalled anemone, Actinothoe sphyrodeta, is a small, delicate sea anemone found in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean. It is particularly common around the British Isles, especially on the north, west, and south coasts of Britain, and also along the Atlantic coast of France. Divers can identify this anemone by its smooth, pale grey column, which can extend up to 3 cm in length, and its oral disc that can expand to about 2 cm in diameter. The oral disc is typically white or orange, surrounded by up to 120 translucent white tentacles with grey bases. Unlike similar species, it lacks adhesive suckers and features longitudinal white striations on its column. The sandalled anemone is primarily a sublittoral species, inhabiting depths down to about 50 meters, although most occurrences are shallower than 40 meters. It thrives in caves, under overhangs, on rock walls, and occasionally on brown seaweeds like Laminaria fronds. It reproduces by longitudinal fission, where the base elongates and splits to form two new individuals. This anemone often coexists with jewel anemones and Devonshire cup corals, adding to the diversity of the underwater habitat. While the sandalled anemone is harmless to humans, its ecological role and interactions with other marine species make it an interesting subject for divers. As of now, there is no specific conservation status assigned to this species, but it remains a common sight in its native regions.