### Identification Keep your eyes peeled for a delicate, translucent starburst emerging from the silt. *Anemonactis mazeli* is a medium-sized burrowing anemone, typically reaching about 3–5 cm across the oral disc. Its most distinguishing field mark is its 20 long, slender tentacles (rarely 16–24), which are often arranged in two distinct cycles. These tentacles are translucent, frequently dusted with fine white specks or "frosting," and may show subtle cream-colored bands. Unlike many of its cousins, its column is smooth and lacks sticky warts (verrucae). Look for the striking radial patterns on the oral disc—white or yellowish lines that draw the eye toward the central mouth.
### Habitat & Range This species is a specialist of the soft-bottomed benthos. It is widely distributed across the Northeast Atlantic, from the fjords of Scandinavia down to the Mediterranean Sea. You won’t find it on rocky reefs; instead, look for it in muddy, sandy, or gravelly substrates. While it can be found in shallower shelf waters (around 20 meters), it is most common in the deeper circalittoral and bathyal zones, sometimes reaching depths of over 600 meters.
### Behaviour *A. mazeli* is a master of the "disappearing act." It lives a solitary life, buried vertically in the sediment. During periods of activity—typically at night or in low-light conditions—it expands its crown to feed. However, it is incredibly sensitive to vibrations and light; if startled by a predator or a diver’s torch, it uses a rapid hydrostatic contraction to vanish instantly into the safety of the seabed, leaving only a small dimple in the mud.
### Diet An opportunistic ambush predator, it feeds primarily on zooplankton and small benthic invertebrates like tiny crustaceans or polychaete worms. Its tentacles are armed with microscopic stinging cells (nematocysts) that paralyze prey on contact, which is then slowly moved toward the central mouth.
### Fascinating Fact Unlike most anemones that have a flat "pedal disc" to stick to rocks, *A. mazeli* has a specialized, bulbous organ called a physa. This inflatable "balloon" acts like a biological shovel, allowing the anemone to literally "corkscrew" its way into the sediment to anchor itself!