MCS: Lancashire area group

Right: Photograph of the plumose anemone Metridium senile (L.) by Ron Crosby.

Common on wreck sites, metridium will colonise any hard substrate where there is a strong current to bring food to it. Metridium is distinguished by having a mass of fine feeding tentacles (usually rather finer and more numerous than in the example here) and a prominent ribbed mouth. The tentacles can be withdrawn very quickly if disturbed.