Image of Diadumene neozelanica Carlgren 1924

Description:

Looks similar to Anthothoe albocincta, but a very large number of light orange tentacles and blue-grey body with lighter coloured stripes and brown oral disc. Column about 10mm high 15mm diameter. Emitted stinging threads from the column when poked (good scientific method ;-). It was growing out horizontally from a rock, and was still under about 0.5m of water at low tide. I count at least 310 tentacles. Added a fifth photo taken the day before, the width is maybe greater than 15mm.