Isozoanthus sulcatus

George Brown I think this is Isozoanthus sulcatus but would appreciate confirmation. Lots of them about but difficult to photograph when you have the wrong lens on! Limestone reef in Loch Eishort, west coast of Skye. Depth 20m. Temp 6C. 25th March 2013.

Keith Hiscock Looks like it to me. I will send you some photos from Plymouth area. Aka 'ginger tinies'.

George Brown Thanks Keith, says so much more than Isozoanthus sulcatus.

Chris Wood George it would be good to have a form with this on as there are no records of Isozoanthus from Skye on the NBN, or indeed anywhere further north so its a bit of a find. The fully expanded one is certainly Isozoanthus but the partly contracted ones look quite different to how I am used to seeing them. in fact I wondered if they were Phellia gausapata ... but probably not - aka peppercorn anemone so many names for something so small.

George Brown Thank you Chris, on the case with a surveyor form. I'm familiar with Phellia and can see exactly what you mean but I only find Phellia in high energy sites such as gullies and the like. Also there were none bigger than the ones in the photo, all were about 3mm to 4mm in diameter. Do they produce a connecting stolon or root system? Or are they truly individual - I guess they are? This is a site I'll be back to as there are plans to site a huge fish farm complex here which has aroused much concern. The site is also choked with silt from endless scallop dredging. Very sad.

Chris Wood George yes there is a connecting stolon but it isn't usually visible. As a rule they lie flat with a layer of silty sediment on top so you don't see either the stolon or the column which is what makes your picture unusual. Yes agree Phellia is always somewhere exposed.