Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 10, 2026

Edwardsia timida

Edwardsia timida, also known as the timid burrowing anemone, is a species of sea anemone in the family Edwardsiidae.

Last revised
Jul 10, 2026
Read time
≈ 2 min
Length
395 w
Citations
12
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Edwardsia timida
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Subphylum: Anthozoa
Class: Hexacorallia
Order: Actiniaria
Family: Edwardsiidae
Genus: Edwardsia
Species:
E. timida
Binomial name
Edwardsia timida
Synonyms1
List
  • Edwardsia callianthus Rawlinson, 1935
  • Edwardsia harassei Quatrefages, 1842
  • Edwardsia harassi Quatrefages, 1842
  • Edwardsia harassii Quatrefages, 1842
  • Edwardsiella dixoni
  • Edwardsiella harassii Quatrefages, 1842
  • Edwardsiella timida Quatrefages, 1842
  • Edwardsioides timida (Quatrefages, 1842)
  • Fagesia dixoni (Carlgren, 1921)
  • Milne-Edwardsia dixonii (Carlgren, 1921)
  • Milne dixoni Carlgren

Edwardsia timida, also known as the timid burrowing anemone, is a species of sea anemone in the family Edwardsiidae.234

Description

This species of sea anemone has a maximum diameter of 5 mm (0.20 in) and maximum length of 7 cm (2.8 in);5 it is similar to Edwardsia claparedii but even more elongate, with a translucent pale orange colour. It has 16–32 tentacles arranged in 3 cycles, with 4 larger tentacles in the primary cycle.6 Its column is slender, without tubercles. It has cinclides (pores in the body wall for release of water and cnidocytes).78

Distribution and habitat

Edwardsia timida is found in the Irish Sea and English Channel.9 It is one of 943 species listed by Natural England in 2014 as species of principal importance for the conservation of biodiversity in England.10

Edwardsia timida burrows in sand or gravel from lower shore to shallow sublittoral.1112

References

References

  1. "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Edwardsia timida Quatrefages, 1842". www.marinespecies.org.
  2. Haddon, Alfred Cort (November 11, 1889). "A Revision of the British Actiniae" – via Google Books.
  3. Wood, Chris (July 26, 2013). Sea Anemones and Corals of Britain and Ireland. Princeton University Press. ISBN 9780957394636 – via Google Books.
  4. Eleftheriou, Anastasios (April 5, 2013). Methods for the Study of Marine Benthos. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 9781118542378 – via Google Books.
  5. "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Edwardsia timida Quatrefages, 1842". www.marinespecies.org.
  6. "Edwardsia timida - Marine Life Encyclopedia". www.habitas.org.uk.
  7. "cinclides" – via The Free Dictionary.
  8. "MarLIN - The Marine Life Information Network - Timid burrowing anemone (Edwardsia timida)". www.marlin.ac.uk.
  9. "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Edwardsia timida Quatrefages, 1842". www.marinespecies.org.
  10. "Section 41 Species - Priority Actions Needed (B2020-008)". publications.naturalengland.org.uk. Natural England. October 2013. Retrieved 17 February 2017.
  11. "MarLIN - The Marine Life Information Network - Timid burrowing anemone (Edwardsia timida)". www.marlin.ac.uk.
  12. Wood, Chris (July 26, 2013). Sea Anemones and Corals of Britain and Ireland. Princeton University Press. ISBN 9780957394636 – via Google Books.