(photo of Adam Petrusek, Czech Republic: specimens from Adriatic Sea)
Parazoanthus axinellae forms variable colonies, occasionally characteristic thick yellow spongy masses are formed on the bases of zooids. Zooids have about 30-32 tentacles. Parazoanthus anguicomus is a similar species that can be distinguished by more numerous tentacles.
Taxonomy:
Phylum Cnidaria
Class Anthozoa
Order Zoantharia