Pachycerianthus multiplicatus

Wilfried Bay-Nouailhat Hi, is this Pachycerianthus multiplicatus ? Rade de Brest, Brittany, 8 meters

Chris Wood No I don't think so. The Pachycerianthus multiplicatus we see in the UK - well Scotland and Ireland is less colourful and is always in mud. This looks very much like the Pachyceriantus we only see in the Channel Islands and according to Richard Manuel is an undescribed species he called Dorothy! It would be interesting if anyone knows P. membranaceous from the Mediterranean to compare it with that. This is a lovely specimen, very pretty

Wilfried Bay-Nouailhat Thanks Chris, This tube anemone is always present on muddy, sandy bottoms or even among maerl. The one on the picture is on muddy sand covered in seaweeds. They can be clearer or darker, always with brown bands, but they all have a dark ring around the labial tentacles, as with "Dorothy".

Bernard Picton Richard had one in a tank in Oxford for years, hence the pet name. He was sure it was a Pachycerianthus and not a Cerianthus. I'm not sure if Cerianthus mediterraneanus is really a Cerianthus though.

Jan Roar Gjersvold Pachycerianthus multiplicatus

Stuart Pearce Great shot :)

Tom Hobock Super sweet Jan. tanks Tom

Jan Roar Gjersvold Thanks for nice comments guys:-)

Mark Springs Nice photo

Jan Roar Gjersvold Thanks alot Mark Springs :)

Wilfried Bay-Nouailhat Hi, is this Pachycerianthus multiplicatus ? Rade de Brest, Brittany, 8 meters

Chris Wood No I don't think so. The Pachycerianthus multiplicatus we see in the UK - well Scotland and Ireland is less colourful and is always in mud. This looks very much like the Pachyceriantus we only see in the Channel Islands and according to Richard Manuel is an undescribed species he called Dorothy! It would be interesting if anyone knows P. membranaceous from the Mediterranean to compare it with that. This is a lovely specimen, very pretty

Wilfried Bay-Nouailhat Thanks Chris, This tube anemone is always present on muddy, sandy bottoms or even among maerl. The one on the picture is on muddy sand covered in seaweeds. They can be clearer or darker, always with brown bands, but they all have a dark ring around the labial tentacles, as with "Dorothy".

Bernard Picton Richard had one in a tank in Oxford for years, hence the pet name. He was sure it was a Pachycerianthus and not a Cerianthus. I'm not sure if Cerianthus mediterraneanus is really a Cerianthus though.

Wendy Northway try again - Can anyone help - my squirt knowledge is very low. Found in Loch Long in the 15 - 20m range

Frances Dipper I used to see loads of Ascidia virginea in Hebrideam sea lochs and think this is it but see what others say.

Darryl Mayer I'd agree with the above, Wendy. West coast lochs have these all around.

Wendy Northway thanks - I was going down that route, but was unsure as it is described as pale pink whereas these specimens were quite a vibrant pink. Thanks very much

Tony Gilbert Yes, completely agree. Loch Long is a great place eh Wendy.

Wendy Northway @Tony - Scotland does it for me, full stop!

Tony Gilbert Iam with you on that one Wendy! The sea lochs totally intrigue me. Firework anemones are wonderful to see Pachycerianthus multiplicatus, some can be 1m across and almost as high. In Loch Nevis/Hourn there is a field of them. We spotted a couple in Loch Long (west of Tighness) in June, but they start at 25m. And, Phosphorescent sea pens, Pennatula sp. they start at 30m, we got those in Loch Bonawe, and you get Nephrops with Fries gobies. I particularly like Psolus phantapus, they are rare, but we had about 4 in Loch Creran this year. I could do with more time to get up there, its 4.5hrs to Loch Long/Finnart from where we both are, so have to be content with local sites like Anglesey. But, heh, that's great as well. 3 weeks ago, I got a C. verrucosa on the Cable, last weekend, the vis. was nil, so didn't dive the Straits, and went to Vivian. Heh, and guess what, there are masses of freshwater hydroids still there, and I found a small shell, about 0.5mm across, so chuffed with that.

Darryl Mayer Loch Bonawe? Where's that one, Tony? As for Psolus phantapus, they are extremely widespread. Loch Etive (lovely nursery field of them on the south 80m wall), Loch Sunart, Loch Duich, Loch Creran (as you Happy to take you to see them anytime you're up in Bonny Scotland (as Wendy can attest to). Oh, I can show you Phosphorea sp. in only 10m if you like? And fields of Fireworks anemones starting at only 15m too (Loch Duich).

Tony Gilbert Sounds great, I guess it depends on the Loch, location and compostion.But, I meant that animals like P. phantapus, maybe locally widespread, but still rare in say NW Europe. Firework anemones we found scores, a field of them also. There are so many lochs to choose and dive; I've done a little of Sunart from boat, but Duich is still on my list.

Wendy Northway recommend Duich Tony - 8 hours from here but as Darryl says, the field was plentiful, also tall seaa pens to boot!

Darryl Mayer ...and John Dory juveniles... ;-)

Wendy Northway JD juveniles? Bring them on!

Darryl Mayer In only 12m, at the Ratagan YH (nearby) site where all three Scottish seapens also can be found in the same depth. Actually it's a decent training site too ;-) I'm planning on being there for a week in May. You coming?

Wendy Northway I think I might be! Will mp you!